For many years there have been serious safety issues with projecting laser beams directly into the audience (audience scanning).
This is where a laser beam or image is projected into the crowd where people can reach and touch the image and also look
directly into the laser image. One of the most dangerous situations, when using a laser, is hot spotting or use of single laser
beams. A single point laser beam can be highly dangerous as this can damage eyesight or cause blindness. Hot spotting is
where a laser image is projected, for example a circle / tunnel effect, with high intensity lines superimposed on it. The laser image
should be the same intensity the whole way round the image. Here at Kam we put you and your customers’ safety at the top of
our agenda. After months of development we have installed the XY laser with unique safety circuitry which allows us to introduce
an industry first! A laser that can scan the audience, providing certain guidelines are followed.
Our safety circuitry actually monitors the lasers functions by constantly checking the status of the lasers motors, diodes and
programming. It performs this check approximately every 0.3 of a second. If any issues are found with any of the components of
the laser, the unit will automatically shut itself down. This will prevent any possible chance of single laser beam pointing in case of
failure of the scanner motors.
Please Note
: When using any laser it is always best to act on the safe side!
Never take risks! Never
modify any laser unit.
Beware of unwanted reflections.
The XY laser has a scanning projected scanning angle of 120 degrees by 90 degrees. This means that you can audience scan
providing you adhere to some simple Laser Safety Rules.
What does the term audience scanning mean?
It is when a laser lighting effect is directed into the audience, normally to create tunnels or sheets of light that look like 3D objects
that the crowd can touch or look towards.
What are the legal rules of audience scanning?
In the UK and Europe there is no law that specifically states that it is illegal to audience scan. But if a Laser Lighting effect can
scan a laser effects into the audience, you need to be certain that the MPE is not being exceeded. If the MPE is exceeded there
is a risk of members of the public sustaining eye injuries caused by the laser - which could lead to all sorts of adverse
consequences. It is strongly recommend that you adhere to all Laser audience scan safety advice.
What is MPE?
Maximum Permisible Exposure. This is maximum amount of laser light that the eye can sustain before damage could start
occurring.
What effects are more suited to audience scanning?
Effects that include stationary or slow moving beams
should be avoided at all times
. If you can see the beam moving through
the path it is taking, it is almost certainly too dangerous to project into the audience. You should also avoid projecting effects that
contain hot spots or dwell points in them. Dwell is where extra points are put into certain parts of the effect to help define a sharp
corner etc. The energy present on these types of effect is not evenly dispersed and the hot spots can be hazardous. Smooth
flowing effects, such as circular tunnels, are safer because they maintain a constant speed. Additionally, if you keep the whole
effect panning over the audience, it helps to reduce the amount of time the laser beam is in any one person’s eyes. The XY Laser
is designed not to create such hot spot beams that can cause any issue and the integral laser safety cut out circuit will switch the
laser off if any of the scanning motors fail or stop working correctly.
Does scanning an effect at a faster speed make things safer?
Generally yes, because the beam scans past the eye quicker therefore reducing the dose of laser energy into the eye. From this it
follows that larger and faster moving images are safer.
What is the best way to operate the Laser?
Make sure the laser projects into a public area at least 3m above the ground level, preferably angled into the distance (to reduce
the amount of close audience scanning) and
not
directly down into the audience. Always aim for the least audience scanning –
particular at close quarters. Scanning at a distance will reduce to a minimum the possibility of the MPE being exceeded.
