The basic accountability for safety and compliance
with regulations and safety standards rests with the "principal
investigator (P.I.), lab director or class instructor". This
is consistent with Statement of Principles for Environmental Health
and Safety Management and Quality Assurance" found in the Stanford
Research Policy Handbook, that goes on to state, "the channel
of accountability and enforcement of health and safety goes from those
individual faculty members to the Department Chair, the Dean, and
then the Provost." The P.I. has the following responsibilities:
- Registering with Health Physics all Class 3b and 4 lasers, whether
procured from vendors or fabricated at Stanford,
- Notifying the University of intent to acquire or fabricate a
Class 3b or Class 4 laser by noting it on the proposal routing
sheet for externally sponsored projects,
- Ensuring that users are given laser safety training, both general
and job specific,
- Providing preplacement eye examinations upon request of persons
who may be exposed to 3b or 4 laser beams,
- Meeting requirements for posting, access controls and eye protection.
Where applicable, proposed budgets submitted with funding requests
must include items to fund needed facility modifications, personal
protective equipment, and other safety expenses associated with
the proposed project.
It is also the responsibility of the persons who are performing
work with the laser to operate the laser in a safe manner, and to
observe the procedures outlined in this Manual and in rules promulgated
in specific labs.
The Administrative
Panel on Radiological Safety (APRS), which reports to the President,
has responsibility to oversee the safe use of lasers on the campus,
including review and recommendation of laser safety policies and
auditing compliance with laser safety standards.
The Office of Health Physics provides support for the Administrative
Panel and inspects for compliance with regulations and standards.
The Radiation Safety Officer has been delegated authority to suspend
the use of a laser system, pending review by the Administrative
Panel, if it is deemed to present a clear and present danger to
health and safety.
(Note that the abbreviation "P.I." is used throughout
this Manual to apply to principal investigator, lab director or
class instructor.)
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