Quote: Lasers only emit ultra violet radiation.

Ugh,
Today I was doing some routine training. Part of that was Radiation training and in the power point he listed lasers under UV. Hmm

I spoke up and said
"laser radiation could also be Infrared and lasers within visible light spectrum still pose a danger to the eyes. Corresponding glasses should be used for the specific wavelengths and power"

Text book answer right?
WRONG :wtf:
Instructed responded By saying "laser are UV."

I said the laser you're using right now is a probably a 650.. (He was pointing during his presentation)
"Nope it's uv"

Now, I would understand if we were talking about a specific laser but this was just lasers in general..
Sometimes if someone doesn't know better its ok because they are just ignorant. Some of you may remember me talking about the director at the planetarium shining a laser into a mirror. That was ignorance. I am personally not above being wrong once and a while.

This instructor and his ego are something else... Tried to talk to him after class to see if maybe I had missed something or we were talking about different things but He didn't wanna hear it.

That's unfortunate. I once had a similar experience where the person told me "green light is the most powerful, in fact it is so powerful that just looking at any green light reflection will burn your retinas". I didn't even bother replying to that. It sometimes amazes me how much people are willing to divulge to a crowd they think knows less than themselves.

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Wow. Well, at least you know you are the smarter one (obviously!), whether him and his stupid ego chose to admit it or not. He will probably end up blinding himself because 'all lasers cant hurt your eyes" or some crap.

I agree with you both^
He won't blind himself because im sure he doesn't go anywhere near lasers. They all emit uv. I didn't even get to elaborate about those popular cheap 532nm greenies that are IR diodes DPSS sometimes without filters. That's a legitimate concern.
Meh,
I just let it go. He can go on believing he is correct it doesn't effect me and lasers aren't something we come into contact with on the job.

People who simply don't have the ability to listen to other people are idiots. They are basically encouraging failure on their part. You need others to help you and correct you, and when you block that out, you become wrong MUCH more often.

Get this guys email, phone, or anything to me and i will set him straight, No joke.

What a fool.

-Matt

I would NOT take RAD safety information from someone who doesn't understand basics of the EM spectrum. This is coming from someone with extensive RAD training and experience with radiological survey, emergency response, and health physics procedures.

If you expect to find yourself in a RAD environment get some additional training from someone who isn't an idiot, for your own well being.

I have to agree with you. I took workplace training from someone who did not have the credentials that I did. As he was giving incorrect information, I politely corrected him and he then says who are you anyway. I then showed him my credentials , he turned red and says well you should be teaching this class. I said obviously, and did ! lol Unfortunately he had to give the others and myself a test on the material. He corrected their exams in a total of about 5 minutes , mine took 20. As he could find nothing wrong, he began to look for punctuation and spelling mistakes. He had to admit defeat but I told him anytime he had a class, I would love to be his assistant. He could not believe my offer after the way he had behaved. I went with him on three or four more classes and after he had the info correct. I left him to it by himself. To this day he is one of my best friends and whenever anyone asks how two very different people came together, I tell this story.
However correct info is correct info and I still will not let anyone get hurt by misinformation, and occasionally I can be wrong too, the older I get the more I admit it! LOL

Unless the instructor is talking about a specific UV laser for a specific application, he is wrong.

Is hard to believe anyone could be so lacking but it happens.MAybe he doesn't know what UV means?

Maybe printout some stuff that shows laser wavelengths and give it to him.

One page from wikipedia should do --- maybe
List of laser types - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

or this one that clearly shows a wide range Laser wavelength charts - Lexel Laser

@ sigurthr the most common radiation I come into contact with is when they X-ray pipe welds which I believe is gamma radiation? I stay FAR away when they do that. The thoriated tungsten and of course N.O.R.M.
@Encap I love those charts!

Here's what I'm going to do. Today is the last day of training, he might be curious if he is actually right or wrong so he may bring the subject up again. If he does, then I will draw the electromagnetic spectrum on the white board and make a note of visible light, where infrared is and where uv is. On the same drawing I'll have to draw where common lasers fall he could recognize. Example. 405, 445, 532, 635(HeNe), 650, 808. THEN maybe talk about output <5mW - 5W.
This training I'm taking is very broad. If he doesn't bring it up again I'm not going to. Like I said I tried to talk to him after class and he don't want to hear it.

Yep, X-ray is long wavelength gamma. There have been lethal backscatter accidents from industrial X-ray machines. Remember it is light so it can bounce off high density surfaces.

Not much you can do from the ThO2, just make sure dust collection systems are in place at sharpening stations.


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Down with Umbrella said:

Here's what I'm going to do. Today is the last day of training, he might be curious if he is actually right or wrong so he may bring the subject up again. If he does, then I will draw the electromagnetic spectrum on the white board and make a note of visible light, where infrared is and where uv is. On the same drawing I'll have to draw where common lasers fall he could recognize. Example. 405, 445, 532, 635(HeNe), 650, 808. THEN maybe talk about output <5mW - 5W.
This training I'm taking is very broad. If he doesn't bring it up again I'm not going to. Like I said I tried to talk to him after class and he don't want to hear it.

Click to expand...

I wouldn't bother with all that effort when he can google the info in 2 seconds. If it comes up again and he's still so sure about his 650nm pen emitting UV then bet him on it, it's a sure win for you.

TheDukeAnumber1 said:

Down with Umbrella said:

Here's what I'm going to do. Today is the last day of training, he might be curious if he is actually right or wrong so he may bring the subject up again. If he does, then I will draw the electromagnetic spectrum on the white board and make a note of visible light, where infrared is and where uv is. On the same drawing I'll have to draw where common lasers fall he could recognize. Example. 405, 445, 532, 635(HeNe), 650, 808. THEN maybe talk about output <5mW - 5W.
This training I'm taking is very broad. If he doesn't bring it up again I'm not going to. Like I said I tried to talk to him after class and he don't want to hear it.

Click to expand...

I wouldn't bother with all that effort when he can google the info in 2 seconds. If it comes up again and he's still so sure about his 650nm pen emitting UV then bet him on it, it's a sure win for you.

Click to expand...

Or you can show him this thread. :san:

Down with Umbrella said:

Ugh,
Today I was doing some routine training. Part of that was Radiation training and in the power point he listed lasers under UV. Hmm

I spoke up and said
"laser radiation could also be Infrared and lasers within visible light spectrum still pose a danger to the eyes. Corresponding glasses should be used for the specific wavelengths and power"

Text book answer right?
WRONG :wtf:
Instructed responded By saying "laser are UV."

I said the laser you're using right now is a probably a 650.. (He was pointing during his presentation)
"Nope it's uv"

Now, I would understand if we were talking about a specific laser but this was just lasers in general..
Sometimes if someone doesn't know better its ok because they are just ignorant. Some of you may remember me talking about the director at the planetarium shining a laser into a mirror. That was ignorance. I am personally not above being wrong once and a while.

This instructor and his ego are something else... Tried to talk to him after class to see if maybe I had missed something or we were talking about different things but He didn't wanna hear it.

Click to expand...

I too went through RAD training during my time working in the logistics team.

Lasers though mentioned weren't really a top priority. Most of the lasers we'd handle were the ones used in targeting systems and our job was to send them to their designated departments.
Later came HAZMAT, with Radioactive material. What you describe is very unfortunate but not uncommon with rote-style "ex"- military or cop types. No offence to people serving in the military as I am sure (I know) that not everyone serving their country has that kind of concrete sequential mindset ... sorry. I mean no offence.

Seoul_lasers said:

What you describe is very unfortunate but not uncommon with rote-style "ex"- military or cop types. No offence to people serving in the military as I am sure (I know) that not everyone serving their country has that kind of concrete sequential mindset ... sorry. I mean no offence.

Click to expand...

You hit the nail on the head. He is as you described.

Well, we had no further conversations on the subject and this guy will continue believing/teaching that lasers only emit UV radiation regardless of the wavelength. I also wasn't given an opportunity to explain so for now I can do nothing.

People that are convinced they are right even when presented with evidence to the contrary are by definition unreasonable and illogical. There's no point in going forwards or proving them wrong privately. Publicly it can be done so that misinformation is not spread, but undermining authority and credibility publicly can incite violence or retribution.

In the end you need to weigh how important it is to you and if it is worth the risks.


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Edit; typos and autocorrect fails.

I sent him an email thanking him for the training and also the links to the charts listed above with a brief explanation. I dont mind saying something but I don't need him to look for a reason to lay me off because I corrected him in front of others.