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- Dec 11, 2015
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Laser Safety Environmental Pre-cautions
Generally, when it comes to laser environments I think of two situations. When shining to infinity or the laser dot hitting a surface within semi-close proximity of the laser housing.
Objectives are in green, and hazards/dangers are in red.
__________________________________________________
When outside/shining to infinity
✓ Check the sky for aircraft or wild life.
Planes and helicopters always have present indicator lights. Sometimes they flash, and common colours are green and red. But, any colour light that doesn't look like a star should be considered. If you're having trouble differentiating a star from aircraft, look at it for 10 seconds or more to see if it has moved. If not, star. If so, aircraft. Personally, I wait for about 5 minutes or so for a clear sky with no aircraft, and if there are I generally won't shine at all. Hitting a plane with a laser of any power is a federal offence and can earn you years in jail.
✓ Check possible distractions.
This can work both ways, you being a distraction for others or others distracting you. Primarily drivers, you need to look out for other individuals operating vehicles. Whether this be boats, bikes, cars, anything is applicable when it comes to needing a high level of focus. If any one of these drivers look up to see a beam of light and crash, you are responsible and can be blamed. On the other hand, you need to make sure you're not distracted by anything as well. I can't think of any immediate or obvious examples, but something that you would set your laser down while on to look at is a no-no. Attend to your laser's operation at all times, especially in public.
✓ Be aware of your line of sight, as well as others' safety.
This should be obvious, but personal safety is often mentioned more than surrounding safety. When outside, light could travel infinitely until it hits something. That light beam is faster than any living being's reaction time, and it's your job to control that beam of light. When wielding a laser, you could potentially take away someone's sight for life. Before shining, look around you and make sure there's no others in the distance that you may hit. A very visible laser beam may attract others, if you're at a populated area such as a downtown metropolitan area, they may join you and ask about it. If you're not one to welcome that, going to a non-populated area is advised.
__________________________________________________
When indoors or shining on surfaces
✓ Safety goggles/glasses are absolutely necessary.
A laser dot contains a large amount of energy in such a small space, in the form of light. Your eyes are extremely sensitive to light, and a direct exposure to this very dense energy light for less than a second will blind you for life. We can prevent this by wearing a special type of light filtering glasses, somewhat like the way sunglasses work. But, sunglasses will not work as laser safety glasses. These glasses need to be coated for the correct wavelength. Do not purchase any laser safety glasses under $30, buy from an authorized and reputable seller such as survival lasers. $5 lasers from China will not be sufficient, and have been proven unsafe.
✓ Be fully aware of what you are pointing at.
With a massive amount of light comes the heat as well. Lasers higher than Class IV (>500mW) burn certain objects very easily, lower powers do burn as well but not as intensely. Lasers like this can most definitely burn furniture such as carpet and couches, hardwood floors, curtains, walls etc. You need to make sure that you are not burning anything against your desire. If the heat build up in an object from a laser is sufficient enough, the object could be set on fire.
✓ Keep in mind of any dangerous objects/surfaces.
Look out for anything noticeably reflective/smooth such as a mirror, polished metal, or even something smooth like a desk. The last thing you want is a laser beam reflected back at you into your eye. Even with safety goggles/glasses, you should not take a chance. Something else dangerous that you need to look out for are flammable items, a high powered laser can easily ignite a match or alcohol. CAREFUL WITH WINDOWS - None are 100% transparent, and WILL reflect a solid beam back towards you, this goes for any type of glass at all. All reflected beams are also a danger and this is no exception. Windows are also a bad thing to be pointing a laser through, you don't know exactly where/what you'll hit.
__________________________________________________
Be careful with lasers, treat them like a loaded gun. It is very easy to create dangerous situations with a laser if you're not careful, be responsible and eliminate that possibility!
-E.P.
Generally, when it comes to laser environments I think of two situations. When shining to infinity or the laser dot hitting a surface within semi-close proximity of the laser housing.
Objectives are in green, and hazards/dangers are in red.
__________________________________________________
When outside/shining to infinity
✓ Check the sky for aircraft or wild life.
Planes and helicopters always have present indicator lights. Sometimes they flash, and common colours are green and red. But, any colour light that doesn't look like a star should be considered. If you're having trouble differentiating a star from aircraft, look at it for 10 seconds or more to see if it has moved. If not, star. If so, aircraft. Personally, I wait for about 5 minutes or so for a clear sky with no aircraft, and if there are I generally won't shine at all. Hitting a plane with a laser of any power is a federal offence and can earn you years in jail.
✓ Check possible distractions.
This can work both ways, you being a distraction for others or others distracting you. Primarily drivers, you need to look out for other individuals operating vehicles. Whether this be boats, bikes, cars, anything is applicable when it comes to needing a high level of focus. If any one of these drivers look up to see a beam of light and crash, you are responsible and can be blamed. On the other hand, you need to make sure you're not distracted by anything as well. I can't think of any immediate or obvious examples, but something that you would set your laser down while on to look at is a no-no. Attend to your laser's operation at all times, especially in public.
✓ Be aware of your line of sight, as well as others' safety.
This should be obvious, but personal safety is often mentioned more than surrounding safety. When outside, light could travel infinitely until it hits something. That light beam is faster than any living being's reaction time, and it's your job to control that beam of light. When wielding a laser, you could potentially take away someone's sight for life. Before shining, look around you and make sure there's no others in the distance that you may hit. A very visible laser beam may attract others, if you're at a populated area such as a downtown metropolitan area, they may join you and ask about it. If you're not one to welcome that, going to a non-populated area is advised.
__________________________________________________
When indoors or shining on surfaces
✓ Safety goggles/glasses are absolutely necessary.
A laser dot contains a large amount of energy in such a small space, in the form of light. Your eyes are extremely sensitive to light, and a direct exposure to this very dense energy light for less than a second will blind you for life. We can prevent this by wearing a special type of light filtering glasses, somewhat like the way sunglasses work. But, sunglasses will not work as laser safety glasses. These glasses need to be coated for the correct wavelength. Do not purchase any laser safety glasses under $30, buy from an authorized and reputable seller such as survival lasers. $5 lasers from China will not be sufficient, and have been proven unsafe.
✓ Be fully aware of what you are pointing at.
With a massive amount of light comes the heat as well. Lasers higher than Class IV (>500mW) burn certain objects very easily, lower powers do burn as well but not as intensely. Lasers like this can most definitely burn furniture such as carpet and couches, hardwood floors, curtains, walls etc. You need to make sure that you are not burning anything against your desire. If the heat build up in an object from a laser is sufficient enough, the object could be set on fire.
✓ Keep in mind of any dangerous objects/surfaces.
Look out for anything noticeably reflective/smooth such as a mirror, polished metal, or even something smooth like a desk. The last thing you want is a laser beam reflected back at you into your eye. Even with safety goggles/glasses, you should not take a chance. Something else dangerous that you need to look out for are flammable items, a high powered laser can easily ignite a match or alcohol. CAREFUL WITH WINDOWS - None are 100% transparent, and WILL reflect a solid beam back towards you, this goes for any type of glass at all. All reflected beams are also a danger and this is no exception. Windows are also a bad thing to be pointing a laser through, you don't know exactly where/what you'll hit.
__________________________________________________
Be careful with lasers, treat them like a loaded gun. It is very easy to create dangerous situations with a laser if you're not careful, be responsible and eliminate that possibility!
-E.P.
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