Lets first start
out with what these articles are all about. At the end of every week, we pick the
highest talked about thread on our forums and extract the highlights of what
have occurred during that week.
This week, the Thread "Laser
pointers.. A toy or a weapon?" caught our attention.
With concerns of
these items have grown, most people do not understand what can exactly come
of such an item in a household. When laser pointers first came out on the market,
they were high priced pieces of equipment that were sold for a solid application
of business meetings, etc. The safety precautions were great, because if a laser
was to be shined into someone's eyes, it could cause large damage to that person.
In the present days,
these items are being sold all over the place as toys. The unbelievable aspect
is they are being sold for less then ten dollars, where five years ago they
were being sold for over one hundred. You can walk into a pet store and pick
up a "toy" laser and bring it home to play with your cat. You can
have your children play with the laser for their amusement. You can pretty much
do anything you wish, and this is a severe threat. Most people who own these
"toys" do not realize the large implications they pose on the safety
of another human and/or pet. Such information as quoted from http://safetyis.us/Laser_level_safety.htm
:
"Laser
level safety information for OSHA compliance and home safety.
Beware of that
laser pointer that you purchased for your child and husband to play with from
the dollar store. Isn't it fun to jiggle the laser on the floor and walls so
that your dog or cat will chase the red spot created by the laser. What seems
to be harmless entertainment may very well damage the vision of your pet, child
or other family member.
Even more dangerous
is the Strait-Line or Sears Craftsman self-leveling laser level that you purchased
for Father's Day. Do it yourself homeowners will frequently utilize laser levels
to shoot a constant line when laying floor tile rather than snap a chalk link
on the floor. Home owners should be aware that they are working in the exact
area that the laser beam is shooting risking the possibility of eye damage.
Furthermore if you allow children or pets to roam the area while this beam is
on the floor permanent eye damage could occur to those beloved children or pets.
Women are even
purchasing these laser levels from QVC on TV to hang pictures evenly. On one
QVC broadcast we observed the laser expert tell the QVC host to stand still.
Then the laser expert pointed the laser level at the host and joked "yes
you're square."
The Strait-Line
laser level that we purchased had the following printed on the box:
CAUTION LASER
RADIATION EMITTED DO NOT STARE INTO BEAM Class IIIa Laser Product Max. Power
Output <5mW Wavelength 630-670 nm
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS:
Failure to follow warnings may result in bodily injury.
What part of
the body is the laser likely to damage? The eye. The eye doctor will use laser
to correct your vision; however the doctor cuts back the cornea of the eye beforehand
and is careful to not damage the large capillaries found in the eye. Also the
doctor knows not to damage the optic nerve in the eye.
The modern inexpensive
lasers can have very damaging effects on your family members or pets.
This topic so
important that OSHA has issued special rules regulating the use of all lasers
in the workplace and on construction sites. It is great that OSHA can protect
the workers. However it is up to you to protect your family at home. Take laser
safety seriously. Share safety information with other family members and never
allow children to play with any type of laser pointer or laser level.
OSHA rules state:
1. Only qualified
and trained employees shall be assigned to install adjust and operate laser
equipment.
2. Proof of
qualification of the laser equipment operator shall be available and in possession
of the operator at all times.
3. Employees
when working in areas in which a potential exposure to direct or reflected laser
light greater than 0.005 watts (5 milliwatts) exists shall be provided with
antilaser eye protection devices as specified in Subpart E of 29 CFR 1926.
4. Areas in
which lasers are used shall be posted with standard laser warning placards.
5. Beam shutters
or caps shall be utilized or the laser turned off when laser transmission is
not actually required. When the laser is left unattended for a substantial period
of time such as during lunch hour overnight or at change of shifts the laser
shall be turned off.
6. The laser
beam shall not be directed at employees.
7. Laser unit
in operation should be set up above the heads of the employees when possible.
Other brands
just as dangerous include:
David White
self-leveling laser,
Black &
Decker laser level,
Lasermark laser
level,
Porter Cable
laser,
Rototoolz laser
level,
Finish Line
laser level,
PLS laser level
Pacific Laser Systems laser level.
So many lasers
are on the market that it would be difficult to name them all.
1926.54 Nonionizing
radiation for construction
"
Noticeably, these
lasers CAN harm others and pets if used improperly. Why they are being sold
out on the market as toys makes one question the safety limits the government
has expanded upon. These items can be used to play with your pets, but you always
have to have the constant reminder that if you get the beam in their eye, you
can cause severe damage. So please do be warned, as this is a severe threat
that not everyone knows about.
To see more of this in the discussion, click
here.
-Jon
KittieFind.com
