Laser Safety Q&A

Practical answers around laser safety in NZ workshops.
Ruth Nicholson from BeamSafe answers common questions around laser safety, training, PPE and workplace requirements.

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Q1: What are the legal requirements for adding a laser to my business in New Zealand

A1: Just like any other high-risk work equipment, Class 4 lasers are recognised hazards; as such, you should be carrying out risk assessments, having your staff Laser Safety Certified, and ensuring your insurance adequately covers the additional risk factors lasers can introduce to your risk profile.

Additionally, ensure your standard operating procedures (SOPs) include the policy, protocols, and procedural controls required to mitigate laser-related risk and injury.

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Q2: What are laser safety standards, and what can they be used for?

A2: Main international safety standards such as AS/NZS (Australia & New Zealand) and ANSI (American National Standards) are official technical documents available for purchase. These resources are valuable for engineers, health & safety officers, or laser service professionals who need to establish, set up, or follow the most trusted guidelines on laser safety.

Laser Safety standards can be purchased from online standards shops and are issued to you or your company for internal use.
The most relevant ones can be sought by entering search terms that relate to your type or use of laser; however, one of the popular series is the AS/NZS 60825 series.

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Q3: What is a laser safety certificate, and how does that differ from what we can get through purchasing standards as mentioned above?

A3: Beam Safe Industrial Laser Safety Training Ltd references the latest, well-established standards and has invested in many key versions used in laser workplaces.

We then combine these with our own experience and peer-reviewed laser safety standards for the use of PPE and safe set-up, coupled with interactive features like animations, simplified explanations, and clearer guidance to help you understand what is required and how to start strengthening safety culture in your workplace or laser team.

Above all, learners of our laser safety training are also tested to meet an 80% minimum pass mark, with passing assessments, they are then issued formal evidence of training in the form of a certificate that can be used to demonstrate knowledge of hazards and how to mitigate them as they relate directly to lasers in the workplace.

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Q4: How will I know if the laser-related PPE I’ve already got is suitable, adequate and/or correct?

A4: In short, you won’t necessarily know what to look for if you don’t understand the science and safety aspects of the laser you have in your workplace. As lasers differ greatly, you must first identify what type and classification of laser it is.

With this knowledge, you can refer to the training resources provided during your laser safety training, which outline easier-to-read information and give examples, or you can purchase laser safety standards and align markings with the information provided. Because laser safety is technical and the right PPE differs by laser type, it is best to have proper verification through formal laser safety training or ask your supplier, such as the team at Euromarc, to confirm what you should have.

There are newer markings coming at some stage for eye and face protection; currently, the markings can cause some confusion. E.g., letter markings.

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Q5: Are WorkSafe aware of lasers being used in the workplace, and what are they expecting business owners / operators to demonstrate?

A5: As a minimum, we believe that would include, but not be limited to: risk management strategies in place; this should include the placement of a nominated laser safety officer (LSO) for any workplace operating a class 4 laser (as stated in AS/ NZS & ANSI standards), this person actively manages laser hazards, conducts audits, and oversees safe operating practices, including near-miss reporting, incident investigation, and record-keeping.

A dedicated controlled laser safety area should be set up so unauthorised persons cannot enter the controlled space where beam and non-beam hazards are present. This should include properly installed and maintained extraction systems to remove laser-generated airborne plume.

Thorough engineering controls and administrative controls should be in place to eliminate or reduce risks to an acceptable standard. Install and use adequate warning signage and controlled entryways to the laser-controlled area, along with safety signage and barrier guards. Provide PPE that is well thought out, adequate, and appropriate for the task. Lastly, documentation should include SOPs and maintenance records showing laser servicing records and how events are managed.

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Q6: What is the worst thing that could happen with laser welder devices in the workplace if a business is naïve and not already prepared to meet the highest industry standards?

A6: The worst thing that could happen is a serious and notifiable injury to a worker; this could include finger or hand amputation (think Star Wars lightsaber) and/or a fire that starts without being noticed.

Longer-term workers who are inhaling nanoparticle airborne plumes from laser processing can risk developing occupational asthma. The thing with lasers is they generally aren’t a problem until there’s a problem; however, those problems can be catastrophic, like instant blindness or serious skin burns in less than the blink of an eye.

Nobody wants to see a knee-jerk reaction from governing agencies that could restrict the use of these amazing and versatile tools in New Zealand; we are hopeful that by setting high industry safety standards and working to these consistently, no serious injuries or major fire or damage events will occur, and that will see everyone being able to carry on with business as usual.

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Q7: Who can train as a laser safety officer (LSO), and what experience do they need?

A7: Anyone on your team can train as the LSO, or they may be the best nominated person. In most cases, someone with an interest in Health & Safety is ideal, and they don’t need to be trained or use the laser themselves.

The person who trains in LSO safety will also become trained in health and safety as it relates to the laser workplace, so if they have any background experience or just a general interest in this area, that is great. They do not need to have that level of experience beforehand, but it does help.

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Euromarc is partnered with Beam Safe to show our commitment to improved laser safety practices in our industry and to our laser customers.