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Industrial applications of lasers include marking, welding, cutting, and other material processing. Lasers used in these ways have significant power output but are generally designed to limit operator exposure to direct or scattered laser radiation to harm- less levels in order to meet the Federal Laser Product Performance Standard (21CFR1040) for Class 1 laser products. Interesting challenges occur when companies integrate high power lasers into manufacturing or process control equipment. A significant part of the integration process is developing engineering and administrative controls to produce an acceptable level of laser safety while balancing production, maintenance, and service requirements. 3M Company uses a large number of high power lasers in numerous manufacturing processes. Whether the laser is purchased as a Class 1 laser product or whether it is purchased as a Class 4 laser and then integrated into a manufacturing application, 3M Company has developed an industrial laser safety program that maintains a high degree of laser safety while facilitating the rapid and economical integration of laser technology into the manufacturing workplace. This laser safety program is based on the requirements and recommendations contained in the American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers, ANSI Z136.1. The fundamental components of the 3M program include hazard evaluation, engineering, administrative, and procedural controls, protective equipment, signs and labels, training, and re-evaluation upon change. This program is implemented in manufacturing facilities and has resulted in an excellent history of laser safety and an effective and efficient use of laser safety resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development and implementation of non-ionizing radiation safety programs differ from ionizing radiation safety programs primarily due to the absence of prescriptive state and federal regulations. Industry consensus standards and research publications provide the basis for non-ionizing radiation safety program development. This work discusses the methodology used to develop a non-ionizing radiation safety program suitable, with minimal modification, for use both in research and industrial facilities. This program includes identification of industry consensus standards, measurement of actual or potential exposure, establishment of engineering and administrative controls, training and orientation of the workforce, and tracking of changes. Implementation of the program involves cooperation between a small corporate staff and many individuals representing various environmental, safety and health as well as manufacturing and research disciplines located in the facilities that contain the actual radiation sources. Challenges in program implementation include the wide variation in types, numbers, and uses of non-ionizing sources in numerous facilities located throughout the United States. Additional opportunities include providing advice and support to facilities located outside of the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article profiles Toni Velure, who received the 2009 Geoffrey G. Eichholz Outstanding Science Teacher Award at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 12 to 16, 2009.