Course Aim

The aim of this Level 1 Laser Safety Officer Course is to provide an intermediate quantitative level of understanding of the principles of laser safety practice to meet the needs of Australian/International standards for a laser safety officer or Defence level 1 laser safety officer (LSO1). The first two days of this qualification is attained through completion of our Level 2 LSO/LSS Course which covers the qualitative aspects of laser safety practice (see Level 2 LSO/LSO course outline) and complete the provided (online) pre-course material in preparation for the quantitative Level 1 LSO course. The Level 1 LSO course then builds on this knowledge with a more detailed coverage of the key properties, focusing on the mathematical evaluation of laser hazards. This is achieved, preferably in face-to-face mode, through a series of presentations, worked examples followed by tutorial problems, giving a more comprehensive quantitative coverage laser safety practice and use of laser safety standards.

The Radiological Council of Western Australia recognises that successful completion of Opticum’s Level 1 Laser Safety Officer course delivered with edVirtus for any person seeking to obtain this qualification in Western Australia and exempts the applicant from having to sit the Council’s licencing examination.

Course Outline

Pre-requisites.

Level 2 Completion. The Level 2 qualification is a pre-requisite for the Level 1 course, and the Level 2 certificate must be attained prior to attendance of the Level 1 LSO course.

Pre-course material.

After registration prior to the course commencement participants will be enrolled on the online course learning platform and logon details provided. The course learning platform contained pre-course material that participants should complete prior to the commencement of the course.

Laser properties: Participants are required to work through pre-course material to prepare for the commencement of the level 1 course commencement. This work covers key laser properties including spatial modes, near and far field concepts, beam propagation models and calculations | Laser beam through aperture coupling models and calculations | Power, energy, divergence, solid angle, irradiance, and radiant exposure concepts. Additionally, some practice mathematical problems are provided so participants can refresh their mathematics knowledge on some sample problems similar to those covered in the level 1 course.

Days 1-5: Level 1 Laser Safety Officer Course:

Laser properties: Questions/revision of pre-course material on spatial modes, near and far field concepts, beam propagation models and calculations | Laser beam through aperture coupling models and calculations | Power, energy, divergence, solid angle, irradiance, and radiant exposure concepts.

Hazard analysis principle and practice: a more comprehensive coverage laser safety standards including quantifying hazardous exposure definitions.

MPE Calculations: calculation of maximum permissible exposure (MPE) levels for continuous wave (CW) and pulsed lasers.

Hazard distances calculations: Using MPEs for quantitative hazard evaluation, including various permutations of Nominal Ocular/Skin Hazard Distances (NOHD & NSHD) and evaluation of specular reflection hazard distance for CW and pulsed lasers | Extended NOHD/NSHD for telescopic optics | Reduced NOHD/NSHD with filters or atmospheric attenuation.

Other hazard calculations and safety evaluations: specification of the required optical density (OD) for laser protective eyewear or guarding | Extended source discussion and diffuse reflection hazard calculations | Establishing the laser hazard area and plotting of a laser hazard area template.

Classification: Coverage of classification principles and rules stated in the product safety standard | Evaluation of the Accessible Emission Limit (AEL) for CW and pulsed lasers | AS/NZS IEC 60825.1:2014 rules for hazard classification assignment and establishing calculated/measured accessible emission levels | Hazard classification assignment for CW and pulses lasers of single and multiple wavelengths.

Trial examination and discussions: A take home practice examination is provided for self-evaluation of proficiency and identification of doubtful areas before the course examination | Trail exam solutions are worked in class with time for self-reflection and questions prior to commencement of examination.

Level 1 examination: An open book examination is provided for those participants and/ or their sponsors to confirm their proficiency in the material covered the Friday after the course. If a passing mark is achieved, successful completion of the course will be provided. One Level 1 re-examination is included in the course cost.

Course Material

The following resources will be provided to attendees of this course:

1. Course notes will be provided (printed and online).