Permanent blindness from laser abuse at Burning Man

[VisibleGreen]

If safety goggles were cheaper LPF could have some kind of safety foundation where they provide these goggles for staff members at certain public events. I mean something to help spread the word of safety and prevent damage to this great hobby. These idiots mistakes only hurts us (the ones who know how to handle and enjoy lasers properly).

 

[Gabe]

That could send a strong message on how much of an issue this can be. It would be like giving them bullet-proof vests. Message wise, and literally.

 

[InfinitusEquitas]

Certified goggles aren't cheap, and I really can't see people at an event like this actually bothering to use them until after it's too late.

 

[clansley]

Another issue is that no glasses protect from all wavelengths.

 

[Gabe]

Another issue is that no glasses protect from all wavelengths.

Close

 

[InfinitusEquitas]

You forgot these;

But seriously, actually getting people to use safety equipment is hard. I mean crap, we needed a law before seatbelt wear became mandatory and people still don't always do it. The cops are actually the worst offenders in this regard.

 

[Gabe]

Thanks, I was actually looking for that photo :')

 

[hakzaw1]

"

pretty sure that in most states the police are 'exempt' from seatbelts- cell phone usage and most anything else we're are required to do or to NOT do

eyeware is useless at a show unless you are on the laser crew or a performer on the satge near the lasers-

a gazillion of peeps and hours at 'lasershows' in the USA have resulted almost ZERO injuries-- few such activities can say that.


hak

concentrate on lasers and incidents involving aircraft- An issue I feel 'outtrumps' eye injuries by a mile.. you are talking- limited damage- VS a possible crash by aircraft or vehicles where death is a real possibility.

and the suggestion that the rangers at BM wear eyeware is a joke-

how will they find 'offeners' that way??

and although I am still a BM virgin I have read where BM has rules/suggestions concerning the taking of photos too. (which of course would not apply to that ass-hat at BM 2014)


send this lady some $$- Im sure she will need more than expected-

ATM its not completely clear if Kelli was a paid employee of BM or simply a volunteer-(or a bit of both) something that we should not really consider when sending some $$ help- BM may or may not pay her med expenses-

for sure she has lost an eye- so sadly her case must have been the worst possible- a direct shot thru her eye's lens which made the green handheld MANY MANY times more powerful. It would almost HAVE to be that as we all close our eyes in about .25 seconds- so even a very powerful green would not do that much damage unless it was a worst-case thing.. very sad..


hak

 

[Pi R Squared]

I have never been to Burning Man, I would think that most laser use would be at night, I think no one wants to wear safety glasses outside at night, it would also impair your vision while wearing the glasses, I don't know how much light there is there at night but it would be kind of like wearing your sunglasses at night. Uh oh that reminds me of a music video I really liked about 20+ years ago, I better go find it on YouTube and watch it again to get my mind off some things.

And yes the police are to a large extent exempt from the law, if you see them breaking the law what are you going to do? Call the police? :crackup: Don't even get me thinking about that.

Alan

 

[Bionic-Badger]

I think that having the volunteers wear those goggles does send the wrong message too. Yes, there are thieves and other degenerates at BM, as everywhere, and locking up your stuff and being generally safe is good. That's a lot different, however, than putting on safety gear to protect yourself from the BM attendees.

The fact that the ranger had a laser shined on her at all -- regardless of injury -- is should be the real outrage here, as most people have deep respect for the rangers and their time sacrifice. The fact that the ranger suffered permanent injury because of that disrespect adds insult to injury. If such malicious injuries become commonplace, the event should really be shut down entirely. The dream will have ended.

The attendees make the event what it is and there is an expectation that attendees are dedicated to making the event a good thing. Without that, there is no Burning Man. We simply expect better things from people at BM, and an incident like this should be considered a tragic exception. I hope it is.

 

[steve001]

We'll see if BM comes through with their worker's comp. They're pretty slow with some of these things.

I do hope these laser don't get outright banned. BM is one of the few places where you can see and use big lasers outdoors. It all comes with responsibility though, and an incident like this can ruin things for everyone.

Burning Man is a commercial event; they sell tickets; a variance is mandatory. so I would not worry about big lasers being banned at this event. Handheld lasers are another story and could be banned by the event organizers.
Unfortunately you have immature individuals playing with their toys irresponsibly which could prompt federal or state authorities to enact laws banning such devices.

 

[Bionic-Badger]

Burning Man is also a private event and I'm pretty sure they just leave it to the people who run any of the art pieces to obtain their own variances; however, I'd be surprised if most of the people employing lasers ever bother with a variance.

I even talked to the guy who did One Mile Clock and while there were people on his team who had dealt with "FAA variances" (should be FDA variances), they only "tried" to obtain one. In the end they just terminated the laser beams on the hills.

It's really going to come down to enforcement and if things are "under the radar" I hope things stay responsible.

 

[steve001]

Burning Man is also a private event and I'm pretty sure they just leave it to the people who run any of the art pieces to obtain their own variances; however, I'd be surprised if most of the people employing lasers ever bother with a variance.

I even talked to the guy who did One Mile Clock and while there were people on his team who had dealt with "FAA variances" (should be FDA variances), they only "tried" to obtain one. In the end they just terminated the laser beams on the hills.

It's really going to come down to enforcement and if things are "under the radar" I hope things stay responsible.

That's the law, but as you know it's against the law to speed but that doesn't stop anyone.. On the serious side these event organizers leave themselves open to litigation, all it takes is one lawsuit and as you know this is a lawsuit happy country. Personally, I couldn't care less about variances.

 

[Dapcnut]

Looks like Portable Lasers are now banned at Burning Man.

black-rock-city-guide / lasers

Starting in 2015, handheld lasers will be prohibited in Black Rock City. Mounted lasers are only permitted on art pieces, Mutant Vehicles and in theme camps if they comply with specific restrictions

 

[Bionic-Badger]

That's the law, but as you know it's against the law to speed but that doesn't stop anyone.. On the serious side these event organizers leave themselves open to litigation, all it takes is one lawsuit and as you know this is a lawsuit happy country. Personally, I couldn't care less about variances.

Well, everything at BM is considered "at your own risk" and there are other injuries and even deaths there. We'll see what happens.

Looks like Portable Lasers are now banned at Burning Man.

black-rock-city-guide / lasers

It's a shame, because it's such a great place to use hand-held lasers. One person ruining it for everyone else.

 

[olympus mons]

Not meaning to necro pst but after BB linked this thread in his reply I wanted to share my experience last summer at festivals.

Like BB said, these places are a great place for safe handheld enjoyment and I used to bring a 500mW 532 with me till this past summers incident. I was alone in an empty part of the festival enjoying my laser in the dusty air and some people came over in amazement. They asked some questions and I was happy to answer them. One guy asked if he could hold it but I told him I wasn't comfortable with that explaining the potential injuries that could happen and that since i didn't know him or what his level of altered state he was in I'd rather not let him try it out. He was understanding but then his girlfriend who was really tripping hard put her hand in the beam!

I immediately shut it off and explained in detail that she couldn't do that and it was not okay that even the reflection could damage all of our eye sight. She apologized and I resumed. She then DID IT AGAIN! This time I was not nice about it. Told he she's a fucking idiot and i just explained why this was dangerous. I put my laser away and left as she cussed me out for being such a negative downer. He boyfriend apologized on her behalf and I said thanks but Im leaving enjoy your night.

I knew at that moment i will never bring a laser to these festivals again and that's a shame. But also i felt the more people that see them the more the wrong types will go out and buy one and do stupid things with them. I felt I would be part of the on going problem with un safe laser use and owners.
Its too bad as my favorite thing to do at these events is have some me time with my lasers, enjoy them and make people smile. But, its a small price for me to not get to play rather than feel I may be a contributing factor in an innocent person taking a 1W beam to the eyes leaving them much like this poor BM ranger.

I am all for having fun, using psychedelics in a responsible manner and enjoying life, but that girl showed me these lasers are best left at home even though I use them properly.