Understanding Laser Accidents

Understanding Laser Accidents provides a comprehensive reference addressing a wide a spectrum of laser accidents. The under-reporting and misreporting of laser accidents creates a blind spot for the laser management of institutions, laser users and laser safety officers. This book attempts to lift that veil. By giving details of why laser accidents occur, accident preparation, where to find laser accident information, elements of laser accident investigation, role of lessons learned and regulatory oversight of laser use. Chapters include a look at pilot illumination, fiber telecommunication, light show incidents and more as well as a detailed and honest review of three laser events that hold a mirror up to researchers and industrial laser users.

- Provides a comprehensive, single source devoted to laser accidents

- Covers elements of laser accident preparedness

- Provides detailed analysis of some laser accidents that share common threads across the research and industrial environment

- Contains information on where to find laser accident information

- Extensive information on the illumination of pilots

- Reviews laser regulatory oversight, non-beam hazards and laser safety tools

Ken Barat is the former laser safety officer (LSO) for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and National Ignition Facility Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Presently he is continuing his passion for laser safety through private consulting. He has received both Jim Rockwell awards (2009 and 2005) for Laser Safety Leadership and Education, and Tim Renner User Service Award (2002) from the Advance Light Source as well as recognition awards from the Department of Energy and LSO Working Group. He has been a member and presenter at the UK Laser Safety Forum series.