Laser pointers.. A toy or a weapon?

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[Jon]

I remember when laser pointers were over a hundred dollars and were for business applications pretty much. But what gets me know is that they are sold in any time of medium as possible. Now I have nothing against them, I love playing with the cats with them its fun - but is it for everybody?

I am sure they take some of the strength out of them so people can't get hurt, but it is still a laser pointer. These "toys" are sold in stores all over the US. For example, and relevent to this thread, they are sold in Pet Stores. Now that anyone can pick them up, what other applications will they be used for?

I love using it with the Kittys, its fun and you can work them out with only moving your hand. But what happens if a child gets a hold of one of those.

It was a threat in school when someone had it, and they would get in trouble. Now that you can get it even at your local pet store, what are they doing to make these things safe?

 

[blueeyes]

I believe it depends on how much power is in them. I have seen most of them in the pet stores with pieces over it, making shapes and all. You have seen just the dot ones?

[Jackie]

I don't know if the ones in the pet store are harmful or not...I don't remember reading anything besides not to point it in eyes or something.  I don't think it could be that bad since its only an $8 toy.  That's my opinion.  I could be wrong.

[sarahlorrain]

I did a bit od research, and found this article... http://www.laserinstitute.org/subscriptions/safety_bulletin/laser_pointer/

[Jackie]

That is an interesting article - I had no idea that effects were that bad...all I knew about them was not to shine it in anyones eyes which is obvious but I had no idea that a laser could do that much damage to ones eyes.

[Jon]

I did a bit od research, and found this article... http://www.laserinstitute.org/subscriptions/safety_bulletin/laser_pointer/

Backs to show on how exactly did this become a toy for all around use. I mean these things are dangerous, on any term.

The most advanced lasers are being used for missle defense systems. I mean they have been in the works for over 15 years, but now they are most prominate:

From cnn: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/01/16/airline.anti.missile.ap/index.html

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- An MD-10 cargo jet equipped with Northrop Grumman's Guardian anti-missile system took off from Los Angeles International Airport on a commercial flight Tuesday, the company said.

The FedEx flight marked the start of operational testing and evaluation of the laser system designed to defend against shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles during takeoffs and landings.

Adapted from military technology, Guardian is designed to detect a missile launch and then direct a laser to the seeker system on the head of the missile and disrupt its guidance signals. The laser is not visible and is eye-safe, the company said.

"For the first time, we will be able to collect valuable logistics data while operating Guardian on aircraft in routine commercial service," said Robert L. DelBoca, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division.

During the current test phase, which concludes in March 2008, nine MD-10s equipped with the Guardian system will be in commercial service. Katie Lamb-Heinz of Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems said all those aircraft will be freighters. The ultimate goal is to defend passenger airliners.

The testing is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Counter-Man Portable Air Defense Systems program. BAE Systems has also been working for the government on a similar airliner defense system and has successfully tested it.

John Pike, a defense analyst at GlobalSecurity.org, an Alexandria, Virginia, think tank, suggested that development of the system was the lesser of issues for the airline industry.

"I think the problem is making the numbers work in the sense of figuring out who's going to pay for it," he said.

More than capital costs, airlines are likely to be most concerned about the costs of maintenance and aircraft downtime, he said.

"They've gotten these airliners now (so) that they are just remarkably maintenance-free. They've also gotten these airlines to the point that they've got razor thin margins," he said.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, viewed the plane Monday and said she was encouraged.

"This program is very promising because it's already met the operational testing. Now it's a question of how does it actually work in terms of stresses on the system while the airplane is in operation for several hours," said Boxer, a longtime proponent of equipping planes with anti-missile technology.

Boxer said her first priority is to equip the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, more than 1,000 commercial airplanes operated by airlines that contract with the Pentagon to make military flights during emergencies.

No passenger plane has ever been downed by a shoulder-fired missile outside of a combat zone. But terrorists linked with al Qaeda are believed to have fired two SA-7 missiles that narrowly missed an Israeli passenger jet after it took off from Mombasa, Kenya, in November 2002.

The first commercial flight with the Guardian system followed 16 months of tests on an MD-11, an MD-10 and a Boeing 747 using simulated launches of shoulder-fired missiles.

The Guardian system appears as a pod with eye-like features attached to the belly of the FedEx MD-10, a freight version of what was originally the three-engine widebody DC-10 airliner.

DHS gave Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems $45 million each in 2004 to adapt military defense systems to civilian airliners, requiring improvements because military systems need too much maintenance and mistakenly fire too often.
Report: Universal usage 20 years off

A government report obtained by The Associated Press last summer said that both the Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems prototypes still don't meet the reliability standards set by the DHS, and it could be 20 years before every U.S. passenger airplane has such a system.

Billions of dollars would have to be spent to protect all 6,800 commercial U.S. airliners.

The report said testing showed that the systems can be installed on commercial aircraft without impairing safety; at least one company can supply 1,000 systems at a cost of $1 million each; and operation and maintenance will cost $365 per flight, above the $300-per-flight goal.

Northrop Grumman said Tuesday that during the 16-month flight test program a ground-based "electronic missile surrogate" was used to simulate launches and each time Guardian functioned as designed, automatically detecting the simulated launch and mock missile.

"Had the threats been real, an invisible laser beam safe to humans would have disrupted the missile guidance system and protected the aircraft," the company statement said.

I mean this is something that goes way beyond from a small beam laser to a huge system like this, but my point being they are not safe! lol

[Alleycat]

I always wondered if they were a toy,they do sell them in petshops but as human your not even suppose to look at the laser at all,so I don't know how safe they would be for your pets.

[Jon]

I could see it as something fun to play around with the cats, I mean its fun watching them run after it.. But if a child even got a hold of one (a toy for the cat) unless it has some safety device where the beam is not that powerful, I mean who knows what the outcome could be..

I would imagine that pets would have the same safety issue with their eyes as we humans due.

After doing a little research, I found this: 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

So it does look like that in some cases it could be damaging. I would think this would be pushed as a safety issue with these types of devices.

[sarahlorrain]

I don't think I will ever allow my children to play with these as toys.  I'll be too scared that they will hurt their eyes with them.

[Jackie]

I agree especially because if you tell them not to shine them in anyones eyes they might just go against you not knowing the real consequences.  That would be way too big of a risk.