ABSTRACT
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 188 Alignment Activities .............................................................................................. 188
Preparation for Alignment ................................................................................. 189 Alignment Considerations ................................................................................. 189 Alignment Conclusion ...................................................................................... 190
Failure to Wear Protective Eyewear ....................................................................... 190 Solution ............................................................................................................. 190
Electrical Hazards Overlooked .............................................................................. 191 Additional Associated Hazards and Solutions ....................................................... 191 Improper Restoration of Lasers After Servicing .................................................... 191
Solution ............................................................................................................. 191 Lack of Planning .................................................................................................... 191
Solution ............................................................................................................. 191 Checklist for Developing a Checklist or Good Areas to Examine in Making Your Checklist ...................................................................................... 192
Wearing the Wrong Eyewear or Improper Fit of Eyewear .................................... 193 Solution ............................................................................................................. 193
Eyewear Failure ..................................................................................................... 194 Solution ............................................................................................................. 194
Fatigue and Stress .................................................................................................. 194 Fatigue ............................................................................................................... 194
Solution ........................................................................................................ 195 Stress ................................................................................................................. 195
Solution ........................................................................................................ 196 Workplace Culture ................................................................................................. 196
Solution ............................................................................................................. 196 To Whom Are These Accidents Happening? ......................................................... 196 The Perceived Incident ........................................................................................... 197 Real Laser Accidents .............................................................................................. 197
From the Sky Above Us .................................................................................... 197 Background on Exposure to Pilots .................................................................... 199 Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) Laser Incident Reports (CDRH Database Web Site)................................................................. 201
Laser technology has been increasing ever since its introduction in the 1960s. This text concerns itself with laser safety, so let us ask the questions: Are laser accidents happening? Do we have bodies to count? The simple answers are yes, laser accidents are occurring, and the number is uncertain. One survey of laser accident databases demonstrated more than 1,500 from 1960 to 2002. The majority involved eye injury, approximately 70% or more. For your awareness, a small number of reported accidents involved deaths (approximately 3%). These deaths were due to either electrocution or the effects of operating room fires induced by laser radiation. Statistically, this seems like a small number. As in any reporting system, laser safety professionals believe the number of laser accidents is underreported. Any trauma to the eye is dramatic even if the effect passes with time.
