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The risk of laser injury is generally at its highest during service activities, and not only to the service engineer. Yet many laser-user organisations do not have a strategy for external contractors working on site, nor do they have the safety screens, signs and other hardware elements that may be needed to isolate the service activity and thereby protect their staff.

With good product design, service intervention could amount to little more than substitution of one module for another, theubstitute pre-aligned to minimise adjustment once fitted. However, the majority of laser systems, even industrial models, are not designed like this and some means of temporarily isolating the laser hazard during servicing is required. Screens or barriers are one solution, beam tubes and other forms of local enclosures are another.

In practical terms, the LSO needs to spell out the procedures and provisions pertaining to service operations, preferably in advance of a visit by the service engineer. Hazard control during service activities fall into three main categories – organisational (involving risk assessment, training and supervisor control), procedural (including definition of working methods) and equipment (including necessary tooling and jig, temporary screens and signage). Linked to this, the environment should be one that encourages good practice and continual improvement.

Factors that should be considered by the LSO include:

• Local safety rules regarding factory access, fire and evacuation procedures, hygiene and PPE requirements, etc.
• Control of the local area around the laser equipment and limits of any transfer of responsibilities;
• Control and authorisation of personnel within the area and especially of spectators;
• Methods related to withdrawal of laser equipment from production and the constraints that this may have on operations in the rest of the plant;
• Control of the equipment to prevent unauthorised operation during the service period;
• Provision of sufficient space to allow the work to be carried out safely. This is particularly important if the laser unit contains high voltage equipment;
• Anticipated timescales and other time constraints.

The full text of this paper, which we presented at the International Laser Safety Conference, Florida 2003, is available upon request.) The Pro Laser syllabus for laser user training includes safety during servicing activities as an essential element. We also offer training for service engineers.