Handheld laser welding is a powerful technique that has recently found its way into many welders’ arsenals. However, just like with arc welding, proper safety measures must be considered before getting started.
For laser welding, these measures include using personal protective equipment (PPE) such as laser welding helmets and laser safety glasses, ensuring proper ventilation, and establishing a laser-controlled area.
But there’s one often overlooked measure that also plays a critical role: designating a Laser Safety Officer (LSO) to implement and manage laser welding safety measures. In this article, we’ll break down what an LSO is, when you need one, who can be one, and how to pick one.
What is a Laser Safety Officer?
A Laser Safety Officer (LSO) is an employee responsible for ensuring the safe use of lasers in a facility. The role exists to oversee laser operations and enforce safety standards as outlined in ANSI Z136.1, which provides guidelines for the safe use of lasers and laser systems in the United States.
It is important to note that LSO is usually not a full-time position, but rather a title given to an existing employee that comes with a few extra responsibilities. Fortunately, these additional laser safety responsibilities are not typically time-consuming.
What Does a Laser Safety Officer Do?
At a glance, an LSO is in charge of assessing potential laser hazards and making sure that all laser safety procedures are followed correctly.
Here is a more detailed breakdown:
- Hazard evaluation: An LSO must assess the environment and identify potential hazards. In the case of laser welding, hazards may include cluttered areas with flammable materials and insufficient barriers.
- Safety training: LSOs should provide education on laser safety practices to all users of laser welding equipment. The LSO may provide welders with some resources to watch or read or simply take them through critical info like PPE, barriers, and laser beam basics.
- Compliance: LSOs are expected to ensure employees and facilities comply with relevant regulations.
- Incident investigation: In the (uncommon) event of a laser-related accident, LSOs typically investigate the cause and implement corrective measures.
When Do You Need a Laser Safety Officer?
Don’t skip this part: any organization in the United States that owns and uses a handheld laser welder must designate an LSO (if they don’t already have one).
More specifically, ANSI Z136.1 dictates that an LSO is required for facilities using Class 3B or Class 4 lasers or laser systems.
It’s worth noting that states often have different standards and regulations for laser safety. However, every state must at least comply with Federal OSHA rules, with some states having more stringent requirements.
How to Designate a Laser Safety Officer
Even though there are different organizations that offer courses and certifications to become an LSO, formal training is not strictly required. But it is important to choose someone capable and enthusiastic who understands, or is willing to learn about:
- Industrial lasers and how they work, including a basic understanding of laser-material interaction
- Local laser safety requirements and best practices
- The biological hazards of handheld laser welding (eye exposure, skin burns, and respirable fumes)
Once you have chosen your LSO, you can provide them with training resources as needed. Options include:
- ANSI Z136.1 and related documentation
- Online and in-person LSO and laser welding training courses
- Safety manuals for your specific laser welder
- Consultation with the manufacturer of your laser welder
The goal isn’t to make the LSO an all-encompassing laser expert – it’s to give them the knowledge and authority to prevent accidents and promote safe working habits.
Getting Started With Laser Welding
For many, laser welding safety is new, confusing, or concerning. We get it, which is why we are 100% dedicated to laser safety. If you have any questions about how to choose or train an LSO in your shop, we’re here to help.
Click here to talk to a laser welding safety expert.
NOTE: This information is applicable to welders and shop managers in the United States of America only and is not intended as a replacement for official laser safety documentation. Please refer to ANSI/LIA Z136.1 and consider speaking to a laser safety expert.
FAQ
Where can I find LSO training resources?
There are various places where you can find courses and LSO training certifications. The following list is a good starting point:
What laws govern the appointment of an LSO?
In the U.S., laser safety is primarily governed by ANSI Z136.1, which is a consensus standard rather than a federal law—but is widely enforced by OSHA and state agencies. This standard provides guidelines for when an LSO is required.
Do I need to notify anyone officially when I designate an LSO?
No. There is no federal registry or notification process required when assigning an LSO. However, it’s recommended to document the designation internally and keep records of their training and responsibilities for compliance purposes.
Does my LSO need to be a trained laser welder?
Not necessarily. An LSO can be just about any employee, including an owner or shop manager. For larger organizations, LSOs are sometimes chosen from the safety, operations, or even engineering departments.
Regardless of who you pick, the LSO must have a solid grasp of the required safety standards, the laser equipment in question, and how lasers work.
My LSO left. How do I designate a new LSO?
Picking a new LSO is, in many ways, like picking your first LSO. But it may be even easier the 2nd or 3rd time around.
If your previous LSO did a good job ensuring your laser welding environment is safe and that relevant employees are educated, a new LSO can simply take on recurring duties like occasional audits and inspections, new employee training, and record keeping.
Can an owner or manager serve as the LSO?
Yes, an owner or manager can serve as the LSO. While this option is not inherently unsafe, this approach is typically only taken at smaller operations with limited options.
It’s a good idea to consider the workload and responsibilities of the owner or manager. While an LSO’s responsibilities do not take very much time on a month-by-month basis, they should not be ignored just because the employee is busy.
When do I need more than one LSO?
The vast majority of operations do not need more than one LSO.
Additional LSOs may be considered for very large facilities with many employees working with handheld laser welders or other class 4 laser systems, particularly across multiple shifts.
Use of handheld laser welders of other class 4 laser systems across multiple locations might also necessitate more than one LSO.
I’m a hobbyist laser welder. Does that make me the LSO?
Legally speaking, hobbyists do not need to serve as or designate an LSO.
However, hobbyists should still take care to operate their laser welder safely. For example, hobbyists should ensure family and friends cannot enter the laser welding area while the laser is firing and that uncovered windows do not provide line of sight to passerby.
How many hours a week does the LSO dedicate to laser safety?
There are no legal requirements for how much time an LSO dedicates to their responsibilities. Ultimately, it depends on the size of your operation and how many resources you want to commit to laser safety.
For a small organization, most of an LSO’s work will occur upon integration of the first piece of laser equipment. Educating themselves, establishing a laser-controlled area, and training relevant employees may take anywhere from a few hours to a week. Their ongoing duties are unlikely to require more than an hour or two a month.
For very large organizations, LSO may be a full-time title, although this is relatively uncommon.
