Laser Risk Assesment

[luebug]

Hello,

 

Does anyone have advice for a risk assessment of the use of a laser during a theatre production? We want to use a KAM iLink Laser Red, Green & Yellow pointed at the stage. It's 100mW red + 40mW green, DMX512, Key operated safety control, Laser classification: EN60825-1 2007, Laser safety standard: Class 3B. It will do a fairly slow scan with two horizontal bars for about 5 seconds then flash 12 dots for about 3 seconds. There will be 2 performers on stage.

 

Many thanks for any help you can offer,

 

James

[ImagineerTom]

Does anyone have advice for a risk assessment of the use of a laser during a theatre production?

[/color]

yes, sit down and think about the risks, the accidents and incidents that could occur, then work out how likely (really) they are, then work out if there's simple steps you could take to ensure the high risk or highly likely problems are dramatically reduced.

If you can't work these things out yourself then (by definition) you're not the competent person needed to be in charge and you need to find someone who is. No-one outside of your production can possibly write your risk assessment as we know nothing about what you're actually doing, who you're doing it to and how often you're doing it.

[Dmills]

Actually, the standard advice here is to take laser related question to www.photonlexicon.com where the hard core laser show types hang out.

 

In general at those power levels you will want to avoid static beams anywhere anyone could get in the way, and especially anywhere anyones eye could get in the way, and will probably need to avoid putting any beam into an audience area at less then 3m up. Really you should do the calculations and measurements to be safe, but if you are asking, you do not have the gear or the knowhow.

3B in the eye can do some damage, and will certainally cause flash blindness which is itself not helpful on a stage (especially if there is a pit in front of it).

 

Lasers plus dancers generally equals serious sober conversations with directors about which way people will be facing when and a guy standing in the wings with a finger on a dead mans switch to drop out the interlock loop if a dancer turns toward the source.

 

Also, that little laser will get totally washed out by any serious stage lighting, certainally if you lack haze.

 

Note that DMX is not rated for safety critical functions so you will want to hard mask the projector to keep any stray beams to a safe area (Cheap lasers also tend to suffer a disproportionate number of scanner failures). Black wrap is your friend for this.

 

Regards, Dan.

[luebug]

Thanks Dan

[kerry davies]

HSG 95, downloadable from the HSE website, is a good start point but as Tom says, competence is necessary. I never messed with lasers myself but always used a specialist contractor.

 

Plus several for what Dan says but reflections are your worst enemy in entertainment environments. Lasers act faster than the eye's natural aversion reaction which can cause damage literally "before you know it."

[greenalien]

As the laser will be pointed at the stage, the only people at (very small) risk are the 2 performers - they could have their eyes protected 100% by laser safety glasses, but it should suffice if they are told not to look in the direction of the laser when it is on. The only other risk is for reflected light going back into the audience, so if there's no reflective material on stage, no problem. If you just want the projected lines and dots from the laser, no fog needed; if you want the beams to show up, then you will need fog or haze.

This type of laser is installed in the hundreds in clubs around the world, usually pointed at the dance floor. They are safe as long as the scanners inside keep working. If these fail, a static beam could be projected which is much more dangerous if it enters someone's eye. 'Proper' laser projectors have some sort of scan-fail detection built in - I don't think the KAM laser you mention has such a device.

[luebug]

Many thanks for your response. Very useful information.

[kerry davies]

Just to add, do read the user manuals, they are on the websites if you haven't got a print copy.

 

As John says, there are hundreds pointed at dancefloors all around the world, mostly contrary to MI's. This model's manual states that "separation" should be 10 feet vertically and 8 feet horizontally.

It is not reccommended (sic) that the laser is pointed at an area where audience will be present.......procedures other than those specified herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure.

Almost certainly covering their backsides but it is what they publish.