Laser Safety
Laser Safety at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Environmental Health and Safety's Laser Safety team is responsible for ensuring the safe use of all lasers and laser systems within the university.
The Laser Safety Program (LSP) at Virginia Tech is intended to ensure the safe use of laser systems by employees whose job responsibilities require the operation, maintenance, or servicing of Class 3R, Class 3B, or Class 4 lasers. The program is designed to minimize the risk of injury, death, or property damage associated with laser use by establishing clear safety practices, training requirements, and hazard control measures.
Environmental Health & Safety requires Virginia Tech employees who operate, maintain, or service Class 3R, 3B, or Class 4 laser systems to comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.97 and the ANSI Z136 series of laser safety standards. It is our goal to assist departments and supervisors in maintaining a safe, healthy, and secure work environment that fully meets university requirements and governmental regulations.
5 Steps to Laser Safety Compliance
Follow the five steps below to meet Virginia Tech's laser safety requirements, from initial approval and purchasing to registration, training, and ongoing maintenance.
Step 1: Approval
Prior to purchasing or receiving a Class 3R, 3B, or Class 4 laser/laser system, laser cutter/engraver, or confocal microscope, you must receive approval from the Laser Safety Officer (LSO).
-
Email the LSO, Donald Conner, at
dcon@vt.edu
with the following information:
- Purpose and intended location of the laser
- Power and other physical characteristics, including class, type, wavelength, etc.
- Necessary control measures
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), required for all Class 3B and Class 4 lasers
- Names and PIDs of authorized laser users
Helpful tip: The laser manufacturer's user manual is the best source for information about power and physical characteristics.
- The LSO will review the information and provide additional safety recommendations for control measures and personal protective equipment, as needed.
- Once approved by the LSO, the laser or laser system can be acquired.
Step 2: Purchase
After receiving approval from the LSO, you should purchase your laser through HokieMart. Make sure to use the correct codes to speed up procurement.
Important: Lasers are not procured until reviewed by the LSO.
HokieMart Purchasing Codes
| Code | Purchase Category |
|---|---|
| 22412 | Class 3R, 3B and 4 lasers (greater than $2,000) |
| 22417 | Class 3R, 3B and 4 lasers (less than $2,000) |
| 22413 | Laser engravers/cutters with embedded Class 3R, 3B or 4 lasers (greater than $2,000) |
| 22418 | Laser engravers/cutters with embedded Class 3R, 3B or 4 lasers (less than $2,000) |
Laser Class Definitions
- Class 3R: Limited to 5 mW
- Class 3B: Between 5 mW and 500 mW
- Class 4: 500 mW or greater
More information: Visit Virginia Tech Procurement.
Step 3: Register
Register all Class 3B, 3R, and Class 4 laser systems, all laser cutters/engravers, and all confocal microscopes with Environmental Health & Safety. Registration requires basic information about your laser system. The best source of that information is the laser manufacturer's user manual. Please use it along with your lab-specific information.
You can save and manage your registration in the Safety Management System (SMS) and return to it as necessary.
For all Class 3B and Class 4 laser systems, you must also conduct a laser hazard analysis (LHA) on the proposed laser setup. This should be completed by the PI/Laser Owner. The LHA should be an overall examination of the laser system to evaluate risks based on laser class, wavelength, and power, examining both beam and non-beam hazards.
More information on this process is provided in Section 6 of the Laser Safety Program (PDF). Complete the EHS Laser SOP Template (Fillable PDF) as you complete this process and upload it to the SMS with your laser registration. If your laser was purchased recently, you likely already completed this process in Step 1: Approval.
Once registration is complete, the Laser Safety Officer (LSO) will contact you to discuss any necessary modifications to meet compliance requirements. The LSO will also help determine appropriate eyewear for your laser or laser system, if you do not already have it.
Inactive lasers must be registered. Lasers that are not currently in use must also be registered with EHS as "Inactive." If the laser enters use again, update its status in the Safety Management System.
Information Needed for Registration
Have the following information prepared when registering your laser:
Required for Class 3B and Class 4: Develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) using the 2026 template (PDF).
Step 4: Train
All laser users must complete Environmental Health & Safety Laser Safety Training. Additionally, lab members must complete laser-specific training by the PI to learn the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the laser(s) they will be operating.
Principal Investigator (PI) Responsibilities
- Maintain a current list of authorized users inside the Safety Management System.
- Train all authorized laser users to follow the SOPs developed for your laser systems.
- Maintain SOP training records. These records must be available to Environmental Health & Safety during an inspection or upon request.
- Ensure authorized users attend training before working with laser Classes 3R, 3B, or 4. Environmental Health & Safety provides laser safety training regularly and upon request.
Step 5: Maintain and Respond
Once a laser system is established, it is necessary to maintain and update all records annually or when changes to the laser system or laser users occur.
The PI or appointed laser manager is responsible for ensuring that all lab members remain up to date on training. Any changes to the laser SOP must be updated in the SMS, including but not limited to changes in laser configuration, building or room number changes, or laser decommissioning.
The Radiation Safety Office will conduct regular inspections of each laser system on campus. PIs or appointed laser managers are responsible for communicating with the LSO about upcoming inspections and responding promptly to any findings from inspections for continued safe laser use.
Emergency and Incident Response
In the event of an emergency, follow the protocol below. Once the immediate risk has passed, report all accidents and near misses through the university and Environmental Health & Safety.
Required EHS Notification
Any time an employee must go to an urgent care facility, the emergency room, or is transported by ambulance or helicopter, Environmental Health & Safety must be notified directly.
- Robin McCall-Miller: 540-231-2341. Follow up with an email to rmmiller@vt.edu.
- Off-hours: 540-391-0311
Accident and Incident Reporting
Once an employee reports a job-related injury, the supervisor or department personnel must immediately file the Employer's Accident Report Form.
Employer's Accident Report
Instructions for completing the Employer's Accident Report Form are available through Virginia Tech Human Resources. A username and password are not required. Simply select "Continue without logging in."
EHS Incident Report
Please also complete the EHS Incident Report Form, and someone from EHS will follow up with you.
This form should be completed in addition to the Employer's Accident Report Form to keep EHS informed about accidents and near misses on campus.
Your Laser and Laser Safety Program Quick Look Guide
This reference provides a comparison of laser classifications, power output, hazards, registration requirements, signage, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Laser classes are distinguished by both descriptive labels and background colors. The written requirements provide the information independently of color.
| Laser Class | Power Output | Safe Use Considerations | VT Registration Required? | Signage Required | PPE Required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 (or I), 1M Green category | 0.4 µW | Considered non-hazardous. Hazard increases if viewed with optical aids, including magnifiers, binoculars, eye loupes, fiber inspection instruments, or telescopes. | No | None | No |
| Class 2 (or II), 2M Yellow category | 0.4 µW - 1 mW | Hazard increases when viewed directly for long periods of time. Hazard increases if viewed with optical aids. | No | Caution | No |
| Class 3R (or IIIA) Amber category | 1 - 5 mW | Depending on power and beam area, can be momentarily hazardous when directly viewed or when staring directly at the beam with an unaided eye. Risk of injury increases when viewed with optical aids. | Yes | Warning | Maybe (system dependent) |
| Class 3B (or IIIB) Burnt orange category | 5 - 500 mW | Immediate skin hazard from direct beam and immediate eye hazard when viewed directly. | Yes | Warning | Yes |
| Class 4 (or IV) Red category | Greater than 500 mW | Immediate skin hazard and eye hazard from exposure to either the direct or reflected beam; may also present a fire hazard. | Yes | Warning or Danger (if multi kW) | Yes |
Registration reminder: Class 4 lasers in Class 1 housing must still be registered.
Inactive lasers: Even if a laser is not currently in use, it must still be registered.
Documents and Resources
Access the following laser safety program documents, templates, checklists, and reporting resources.