Safe too view the dot of lasers?

You never want to look at the "dot". If you have to, use as much density or attenuation as you can to still see what you're looking for. I use a pair of 4" diameter polarizers to look through at the terminal spot. Like a large astronomical moon filter. You can adjust the density to whatever you need to make it comfortable or see what you're doing.

This is probably useless, but I calculated a 1W beam would have to be smaller than 21.3 feet in diameter to do damage. That means with a divergence of 1.2 (what I consider average), you would have to be closer than 3.3 miles away to get damage. But considering things like atmosphere/air pollution, it's probably safer than that. Still... Be safe.

3.3 miles is still a long way.

still very interesting. the divergence on the arctic is 1.5 so it would be less then 3.3 miles right?

Correct, it would be 2.7 miles... All I'm saying is, you guys are stretching it. A mountain? Shining a laser at a distant mountain is not going to blind every person there (that is, if it's not closer than 3 miles). I understand not stargazing with it, as there could be planes that aren't visible, but I think it's safe as long as it's distant.