Understanding Laser Accidents

Understanding Laser Accidents provides a comprehensive reference addressing a wide a spectrum of laser accidents. The under-reporting and misreporting of laser accidents creates a blind spot for the laser management of institutions, laser users and laser safety officers. This book attempts to lift that veil. By giving details of why laser accidents occur, accident preparation, where to find laser accident information, elements of laser accident investigation, role of lessons learned and regulatory oversight of laser use. Chapters include a look at pilot illumination, fiber telecommunication, light show incidents and more as well as a detailed and honest review of three laser events that hold a mirror up to researchers and industrial laser users.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Why Accidents Happen
Chapter 2: Laser Safety Terms
Chapter 3: Safety Culture and Incident Investigation
Chapter 4: Accident Preparation
Chapter 5: Lessons Learned Examples
Chapter 6: The Near Miss
Chapter 7: Where Do I Find Laser Accident Information?
Chapter 8: R&D Accident Case
Chapter 9: A Laser Injury Event at the Idaho National Laboratory: Limitations of Skill-of-the-Craft
Chapter 10: Laser Eyewear
Chapter 11: Risk Assessment
Chapter 12: Oversight Regulations and Reported Accidents
Chapter 13: Visual Interference Hazards of Laser Light
Chapter 14: The Potential for Eye Injuries from Lasers Aimed at Pilots
Chapter 15: Outdoor Laser Safety
Chapter 16: Laser Light Show Accidents
Chapter 17: Fiber Optics in Telecommunications
Chapter 18: Accident Investigation
Chapter 19: Non-Beam Hazards
Chapter 20: Laser Safety Tools
Chapter 21: How Many Wrong Decisions Can One Rationalize Away?