Statement of General Policy
Specific Policy Provisions

INTRODUCTION

Lasers have become increasingly important research tools in Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Biology and Engineering. If improperly used or controlled, lasers can produce injuries (including burns, blindness, or electrocution) to operators and other persons, including uninitiated visitors to laboratories, and can cause significant damage to property. Individual users of all lasers must be adequately trained to ensure full understanding of the safety practices outlined in the Stanford's Laser Safety Policy.

The Stanford procedures use as guidelines the recommendations of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), as specified in ANSI Standards Z136.1, "The Safe Use of Lasers;" Z136.2, "The Safe Use of Optical Fiber Communication Systems Using Laser Diode and LED Sources;" and Z136.3, "The Safe Use of Lasers in the Health Care Environment" and the recommendations of the American Council of Governmental Industrial Hygienists contained in the Guide for Control of Laser Hazards, adapted to accommodate the campus environment. In addition the University is obligated to comply with relevant State and Federal OSHA regulations pertaining to the use of lasers.