Laser Protection – Why Is It Important?

Laser techniques are widely preferred for numerous processes due to their high quality of beam and good focus. Even though laser techniques happen to have immense positive aspects, there are certain points that are to be taken care of while working with laser beams. Hence, it’s important to take proper safety measures while working with lasers.

 

Powerful lasers emit light that gets collected to power densities that are extremely high to evaporate metals, tissues, ceramics etc. In the health care sector, laser treatments are done to remove tattoo or cut a tissue. 

 

There are a wide range of applications that make use of powerful lasers and there are risk factors associated if not used properly or not taken proper measures. Eyes, being the most sensitive to light, risk is also high for eyes. 

 

There are chances of getting ocular injuries that are irreversible with just a single glance into directed or reflected beams of laser even when the output power is at a lower level.

 

Apart from the effects of direct exposure to laser beams, there are various other indirect exposure to laser beams that can cause harm.  When your skin or eyes are fully or partly exposed to laser beams directly, it is called intra laser beam exposure. 

 

It’s also essential to be careful about mirror-like reflections that can occur without knowledge. These specular reflections from flat mirrors can be as dangerous as direct exposure to laser beams. Even though the intensity of the beams gets decreased in curved mirrors, there are still chances of danger. When laser beams are reflected on a surface from many different directions, it’s called diffuse reflections. 

 

Since the beams are dissipated in many directions, the intensity and power will be laser in comparison to direct exposure. Nevertheless, diffuse reflections are also harmful.

 

Apart from the amount of laser light that hits the eyes, the high focus feature of coherent laser lights poses another threat. When a bulb constructs an image on the retina at 100 ?m, laser lights are capable of creating much smaller spots of micrometers. The power density resulting from laser lights can affect the tissues so fast and can cause permanent damage to the retina.

 

 

The greatest threat when working with laser beams is getting any kind of exposure to the eyes unprotected. Our eyes, being the most sensitive part of our body, when exposed to laser beams, get focused on toa tiny spot. 

 

This exposure can even cause burning of the retina. Exposure to lasers can cause various types of injuries to eyes depending on the wavelength. Getting exposed to laser lights with wavelengths lower than 400 nm or higher than1400 nm could cause cataracts and burns. 

 

This is due to the absorption of lights of these wavelengths through the lens and cornea parts. The most dangerous wavelengths are between 400nm and 1400nm which will result in retina burns.

 

 

Thanks to technology, laser protection gears are a boon now. Wearing laser safety goggles has proven effective. Laser radiation is categorized as class 3b and Class 4. The power of Class 3b laser radiations range from 5 to 500 mw while the power of class 4 lasers ranges from more than 500mw. 

 

Laser safety glasses protect your eyes from both direct and indirect exposure of radiation. Laser safety glasses are available depending on the wavelength as well as the laser type. Before choosing your eye protection wear, it’s important to identify the wavelength and the class of laser and choose the most suitable one. 

 

Also, certain laser protection sheets can be used in areas like window panes and doors where there is possibility of having laser radiation penetration.

 

It will never be enough how much we stress the importance of using laser protection gear and laser safety measures to protect our eyes and stay away from the dangerous effects of laser beams. It has to be kept in mind that failure to take protective measures can cause permanent damage, especially to our body and eyes. 

 

It’s through teamwork, proper training, communication, educating end users and proper research we can work towards more effective safety measures for laser protection. If you are looking for laser safety gear, talk to experts like Hytek Marketing, discuss your requirements and purchase the best protection wear manufactured in accordance with the standards to get best results.