PerkinElmer RamanMicro 200 Series, Getting Started Manual

Page: 19 / 98

Safety Practices . 19
Class 3B Safety Precautions
You should follow Class 3B laser safety precautions such as the use of door interlocks and
the wearing of laser safety goggles. For information on these precautions refer to an
appropriately trained laser safety officer within your own facility. Laser safety is very
important. Inappropriate use of laser emitting devices may result in permanent injury. In the
United States the precautions are described in the ANSI Z136.1-2000 Standard. For
information on the ANSI Z136 standard please consult your laser safety officer and/or consult
http://www.z136.org. Outside the United States the guidelines are described in PD IEC TR
60825-14 (Safety of laser products – Part 14: A user’s guide). You should also be familiar
with the guidelines published by the national authorities in your country.
NOTE: In certain circumstances when the probe is permanently fixed in a closed
environment, for example inside a sealed reaction vessel, the device can be defined
as Class 1. Please refer to an appropriately trained laser safety officer within
your own facility.
NOTE: The RamanMicro 200 Raman Microscope can be fitted with an optional light-proof
enclosure, which is fitted with interlock sensors to ensure that the microscope cannot
be used with the enclosure doors open. The Raman system is NOT reclassified to a
Class 1 instrument.
The following information is provided as a general overview only. This information is rudimentary
and is supplied to assist in the interpretation of this manual. Under no circumstances use this
information as the basis of a laser safety code of behavior:
1. Class 3B lasers may emit visible and/or invisible radiation up to a maximum of 0.5 W
continuous wave (CW is longer than 0.25 s). They present a hazard to the eye if the direct
beam or spectral reflections are viewed without appropriate protection. You must only
operate Class 3B lasers in a designated area.
2. You must fit each Class 3B device with a captive key control switch, such that the key
cannot be removed from the lock except in the OFF position. The key should be
removed from the laser when it is not in use and kept in a safe place in the custody of a
nominated person. Keys must never be issued to unauthorized persons.
3. Each Class 3B device should be assessed by a suitably trained laser safety officer to
determine the accessible radiation emitted by the device. The laser safety officer should
consider laser power, wavelength and beam divergence when determining if the
Class 3B device’s remote interlock connector should be connected to an interlock switch
at the entrance. For certain laser systems the laser safety officer may require the
shutter to be interlocked with the laboratory entrance in order to prevent inadvertent
exposure of persons entering to very hazardous laser radiation.
4. Rooms in which Class 3B devices are used should have notices affixed to the doors so
that they conform to the requirements of appropriate Laser Safety Regulations.