Laser safety notification

Improperly used laser devices are potentially dangerous.  Effects can range from mild skin burns to irreversible injury to the skin and eye.  The biological damage caused by lasers is produced through thermal, acoustical and photochemical processes.

Thermal effects are caused by a rise in temperature following absorption of laser energy.  The severity of the damage is dependent upon several factors, including exposure duration, wavelength of the beam, energy of the beam, and the area and type of tissue exposed to the beam.

Acoustical effects result from a mechanical shockwave, propagated through tissue, ultimately damaging the tissue.  This happens when the laser beam causes localized vaporization of tissue, causing the shockwave analogous to ripples in water from throwing a rock into a pond.

Beam exposure may also cause photochemical effects when photons interact with tissue cells.  A change in cell chemistry may result in damage or change to tissue.  Photochemical effects depend on wavelength. 

The major danger of laser light is hazards from beams entering the eye. The eye is the organ most sensitive to light.  Just as a magnifying glass can be used to focus the sun and burn wood, the lens in the human eye focuses the laser beam into a tiny spot than can burn the retina.  A laser beam with low divergence entering the eye can be focused down to an area 10 to 20 microns in diameter.

1. Do not allow mentally-retarded, without capacity, mental disorders, minors and non-professionals to use the laser.

2. DO NOT aim this laser on yourself and others, especially their face and eyes. Even temporary exposure can cause significant damage to the face and the eye, so much as burning and blind.

3. DO NOT aim this laser on animals.

4. Never use your laser in the vicinity of highways and airports. DO NOT target moving vehicles and airplanes.

5. Never randomly aim a laser out the window.

6. DO NOT use a laser at the place marked “No smoking” “inflammable and explosive” and easily caused the danger.

7. Avoid pointing a laser at any reflective surfaces, e.g. mirror, glass and bright metal. Unintentionally reflected beams can easily violate laser safety tip #2.

8. Never import a laser which disobeys the laser safety regulation or law of this country.

9. Wearing a set of proper laser safety goggles is a good idea. Though laser safety goggles can protect a person's vision. NEVER to look into a laser beam or bright reflection even when wearing laser safety goggles.

10. Never place the laser any where easily hurt human.