Local Rules
for the safe use of the
supercontinuum
laser system
Location: Chemical Engineering, Pembroke Street
,
Room:
L
aser Suite
(lab D)
, Basement
Responsible person:
Rosalynne Watt
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Cambridge
New Muse
ums Site, Pembroke St.
CB2 3RA, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1223 330133
Fax: +44 (0)1223 334796
Email: rsw32@cam.ac.uk
Laser Safety Officer:
Dr.
Johan Hult
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Cambridge
New Museums Site, Pembroke St.
CB2 3RA, UK
T
el: +44 (0)1223 334777
Fax: +44 (0)1223 334796
Email: jfh36@cam.ac.uk
Laser protection advi
ser:
Lisabeth Yates
The University Health and Safety Division
16 Mill Lane
Tel. ext: 66354 or 33301
Email: ly215@admin.cam.ac.uk
Issued under the authority o
f:
Dr.
Johan Hult
Laser Safety officer, Dept. of Chemical Engineering
1
5
May 20
0
7
Scope
These local rules cover the use of the
fiber laser and supercontinuum generation
system
located in
the Laser Suite
. They cover the
normal use and
user
maintenance
operation
s only
.
They implement the
University’s laser safety policy at a practical level and form part of the
University’s duties
under Section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Description
Mode
-
locked Ytterbium Fiber L
aser
Maximum outp
ut power:
900
m
W
Wavelength:
1065
nm
Pulse length:
5
ps
Repetition rate:
0.3
-
20
MHz
Class:
4
The fiber
laser is used to generate a supercontinuum by launc
hing the laser beam into a fiber
.
The resulting beam consis
ts of wavelengths between 800
-
17
00 nm
and has a
n average
output
power
of
less than 300 mW
(class 3 B)
.
The
supercontinuum
beam is
then
launched
into a dispersive fibre module, after which the
beam will consist of wavelengths between
1300
-
1700 nm, with
a
n
average output
power
of
less than
1
mW.
Th
is
beam is
then launched
into free space and
employed for absorption measurements.
Authoris
ation and Training
Only persons who
are adequately trained (Class 3B and 4 Laser Users Course, and In
-
lab
Training as outlined below) and authorized as listed i
n the appendix to these local rules may
work with the laser.
Main points of in
-
lab training:
1.
Familiarisation
with laser and supercontinuum sensor
operating procedures
Laser start
-
up and shut
-
down
Changing
and monitoring of
repetition rate and output power
Fibre launching
Correct handling of fibres
Collimation and alignment of supercontinuum beam
Beam termination
General good practice alignment procedures
2.
The proper use of hazard control procedures
(interlocks,
warning lights
,
laser
curtains,
Laser Suite ac
cess control system)
3.
The proper use of enclosures
4.
The need for personal protection
(type of goggles required)
5.
Accident reporting
and emergency
procedures
6.
Bioeffects of the laser upon the eye and skin
Laser Controlled Area
This laser may be operated only i
n the designated Lase
r Controlled Area.
Operation is only
allowed when the following conditions are met: Laser curtain is closed, laser warning sign is
illuminated,
t
he laser is interlocked to the Laser Suite access system,
and
the
Laser Suite
access syste
m has been switched to ‘laser on’ mode
–
which restricts access to trained and
authorized personnel only
.
Procedures
*
Before laser is switched on user must:
Activate
Laser Suite
access system
‘laser on’ mode
Illuminate laser warning light
Close laser cur
tain
Ensure that enclosures are intact
Ensure that all mounts and optical components are properly secured
Wear
designated Goggles
.
*
Start laser at lowest output power (lowest setting of
laser
power potentiometer) and ensure
that laser beam is directed in
to supercontinuum fibre, by visualizing the beam using IR
viewing card
*
Any a
lignment
(of both pump
beam into supercontinuum fibre,
and
of
supercontinuum beam
used for spectroscopic experiments
)
should be carried out using th
e lowest possible power
(cont
rolled using the
laser
power potentiometer)
.
NOTE: Laser output is
not
reduced to safe
level even at the lowest power setting
.
Laser beams should be visualized using IR viewing
card.
*
Reduce
laser
power
to minimum
before switching
laser
off
* Remove las
er key, to be kept by authorised users, inaccessible to others.
*
If in doubt on any aspect of the system an expert user must be consulted.
Protection Measures
Administrative control measures (required for all laser operation):
Restricted access (through
Laser Suite access system)
Interlocks (connected to Laser Suite access system)
Laser curtain closed
Laser warning sign illuminated
Engineering control measures (required for all laser operation):
Pump laser and fibre launch unit (class 4) to be completel
y enclosed on all sides
Coupling between supercontinuum beam and dispersive fibre (class 3B)
to be
completely enclosed
Dispersed supercontinuum beam (class 1) can safely be operated as an open beam
Personal protective equipment (required for all laser ope
ration):
CE marked protective goggles should be worn at all times.
G
oggles: CE #390806
(adequate protection against both pump and supercontinuum)
The
laser
must not be operated when feeling tired or dizzy, e.g. under the influence of alcohol
or medicatio
n.
Regular maintenance checks (at least 4 times/year) should be carried out by users and
recorded in the ‘Laser Log Book’. Those include the operation of the interlock system and
checks that the enclosures are undamaged.
Summary of Hazards
Potential seri
ous damage to eyes if local rules are not followed.
Class 4 laser system: Danger of retinal damage upon exposure.
Contingency Plan
Laser Accident: Report any laser incident or accident to your Departmental Laser Safety
Officer and your Departmental Safety
Officer who will report it to the Health and Safety
Division.
The injured person should see a specialist ophthalmologist preferably within 24
hours of the injury occurring. The injured person must not drive.
Addenbrookes has an eye
clinic where a speciali
st ophthalmologist should
be available for consultation. However, if an
ophthalmologist is not available within 24
hours of the injury occurring, you should then be
referred to the nearest specialist eye
hospital, Moorfields, which has experience in dealin
g
with laser eye injuries.
Addenbrookes Hospital
Accident and Emergency Department open 24 hours a day.
Address:
Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ UK
Telephone:
01223 245 151
Moorfields Eye Hospital
Accident and Emergency Department open 24 hours a day.
Address:
162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD
Telephone:
020 7253 3411
Other
types of
Accidents: Refer to emergency Action sheet.
Appendix
Authorised Users and User Declaration
The following users have read the local rules set out above
, the laser risk ass
essment, the
Departmental Rules for the Use of Lasers
and the university guidance on the Safe Use of
Lasers
, have attended appropriate training as set out in local rules,
and agree to work in
accordance to these rules:
Dr. Clemens Kaminski
Dr. Johan
Hult
Rosalynne Watt
Dr.
Toni Laurila
Date of next review
14
May
200
8
or when there is a significant change of equipment specification
, location
or
operating procedure.
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