OSHA, Laser Institute of America Renew Alliance

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has renewed an alliance with the Laser Institute of America (LIA) to help protect workers from exposure to beam and non-beam laser hazards in industrial, construction, medical and research workplaces. The organizations will continue to work together to produce safety and health information, and provide training to help prevent injuries caused by unprotected laser exposure.

During the five-year alliance, participants will provide annual training at the Best Practices Seminar on Laser Safety, develop a webinar training program based on the seminar, and distribute laser safety guidance products at safety conferences and exhibits. OSHA and LIA previously developed fact sheets on the effects of lasers on the eye and skin, hazards associated with using high-power welders and cutters, and materials for use during hazard analysis of workplaces with lasers. The alliance also created a guidance document outlining 10 steps necessary to begin a laser safety program in the health industry, and conducted 18 Laser Safety Best Practices seminars that trained more than 500 OSHA compliance personnel on what to look for and ask when entering facilities that use lasers.

Laser Institute of America, visit lia.org. 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, visit osha.gov.