[Academic] to the attention of LASER SUPERVISORS: lessons learned from eye strike II

[Thorsten Ackemann]

Dear colleagues

As indicated in the mail to the laser users, there was an unfortunate 
laser incidence in the department, which luckily did not have severe 
consequences. Nevertheless it indicates an important need to enhance 
training and tighten procedures.

1. Provide guidance to your co-workers on PPE and take ownership of the 
supervision and a critical use of PPE.

2. Review your arrangement for shielding and alterations of shielding 
and tasks particular groups of users are allowed to do. Safety services 
gives the guidance “Ensure that the general risk assessment details the 
alignment procedure as a separate task, or is detailed in a separate 
risk assessment, and reflects different levels of use and training 
requirements e.g.
           + experimental user (using equipment as it stands);
           + advanced user (permitting alignment) and
           + super/designer user (permitting bypass of interlocks).
  I attach an example of a Method of Work which I drafted after the 
incidence which you might find useful in the process of updating your 
documentation if your review indicates need for it. It is my twist on 
it, informed mainly by my research situation. You might want to adapt it 
and use a three-access hierarchy as suggested by safety services.

3. There are increasing doubts in the relevance of the laser safety 
lecture as perceived by the students. The suggestion is to replace it by 
the university online course, which is completely in line with the 
university policy (and the standard procedure already for guys coming in 
outside the main October intake). However, this online course should be 
accompanied by a diligent induction on group and supervisor/PI level. 
The EQOP group will start an induction event in the first weeks of 
October with a focus on PPE and aspects of practical laser safety 
relevant for the work of the group. Existing group members will be 
required to attend for continuous retraining. SILIS has already a 
corresponding event and might consider augmenting it. I am happy to 
participate in a corresponding event for Nanoscience and IoP.

4. Last but not least: Do not make a judgement call on the severity of 
the incidence, but follow the instructions put down in the local rules 
and grap cards., i.e. PI, dept. RPS-lasers and Safety Services should be 
informed and the eye examination instigated.

Regards

Thorsten

-- 
*******************************************
Thorsten Ackemann  Dr. rer. nat.   FInstP  FOSA
Professor of Nonlinear Photonics
Department of Physics
University of Strathclyde
John Anderson Building
107 Rottenrow East
Glasgow G4 0NG
Scotland, UK

Office: John Anderson Building, JA 8.21
Tel.: +44-(0)141-548 3079
Email: thorsten.ackemann at strath.ac.uk
webpage: http://photonics.phys.strath.ac.uk/thorsten-ackemann/

The Department is a partner in SUPA, the Scottish Universities Physics 
Alliance.

Times Higher Education UK Entrepreneurial University of the Year 2013/14
Times Higher Education UK University of the Year 2012/13

The University of Strathclyde is a charitable body, registered in 
Scotland, with registration number SC015263.
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