Synrad 32-1 - General Hazards

SYNRAD® 32-1 Operator’s Manual Version 2.2
17
Laser Safety
General Hazards
Following are descriptions of general hazards and unsafe practices that could result in death,
severe injury, or product damage. Specic warnings and cautions not appearing in this sec-
tion are found throughout the manual.
Serious
personal
injury
Do not allow laser radiation to enter the eye by viewing direct or
reected laser energy. CO laser radiation can be reected from
metallic objects even though the surface is darkened. Direct or
diuse laser radiation can inict severe corneal injuries lead-
ing to permanent eye damage or blindness. All personnel must
wear eye protection suitable for 9.3–10.6 µm CO radiation when
in the same area as an exposed laser beam. Eye wear protects
against scattered energy but is not intended to protect against
direct viewing of the beam—never look directly into the laser
output aperture or view scattered laser reections from metallic
surfaces.
Enclose the beam path whenever possible. Exposure to direct or
diuse CO laser radiation can seriously burn human or animal
tissue, which may cause permanent damage.
Warning
This product is not intended for use in explosive, or potentially explosive, atmospheres.
Materials processing with a laser can generate air contaminants such as vapors, fumes,
and/or particles that may be noxious, toxic, or even fatal.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for materials being processed should be thorough-
ly evaluated and the adequacy of provisions for fume extraction, ltering, and venting
should be carefully considered. Review the following references for further information
on exposure criteria:
Review the following references for further information on exposure criteria:
ANSI Z136.1-2007, Safe Use of Lasers, section 7.3.
U.S. Government’s Code of Federal Regulations: 29 CFR 1910,
Subpart Z.
Threshold Limit Values (TLV’s) published by the American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
It may be necessary to consult with local governmental agencies regarding restrictions on
the venting of processing vapors.
The use of aerosol dusters containing diuoroethane causes “blooming”, a condition that
signicantly expands and scatters the laser beam. This beam expansion can eect mode
quality and/or cause laser energy to extend beyond the connes of optical elements in the
system, possibly damaging acrylic safety shielding. Do not use air dusters containing diuo-
roethane in any area adjacent to CO
2
laser systems because diuoroethane persists for long
time periods over wide areas.