Laser safety issues associated with PIV application
The use of PIV involves some activities that present a range of hazards. These hazards and associated risks must be managed to ensure the safety of staff, visitors and the environment in the laboratory.
In particular, special care has to be taken, if lasers or high-power LEDs are used for illumination in the PIV set-up. Improper handling and use may lead to eye damage, fire, non-beam hazards (electrical) or other issues.
The measures which have to be taken, depend on the light source used, the experimental set-up, the layout of the laboratory or the test facility etc. and no ‘one-fits-all’ solution can be presented.
For general information It is recommended to check books such as ‘Laser Safety in the Lab’ by K. Barat
The Stanford University makes available a very detailed Laser Safety Manual
General information about laser hazards is provided United States Department of Labor
and in particular in the OSHA Technical Section III Chapter 6
The viewgraphs on Laser Safety by J-P Ganière; EPFL Lausanne,
- http://sti.epfl.ch/files/content/sites/sti/files/shared/security/Newsletter/Laser_Safety_Ganiere.pdf
present the main issues of laser safety, illustrated by many drawings and pictures, in 80 viewgraphs. Viewgraphs 58 and 59 provide a list of ‘golden rules of laser safety’ for operator of laser systems.
A similar presentation, focused to the application of PIV in the laboratory and in the wind tunnel, is available for download at: t3://file?uid=211