Association of Laser Safety Professionals

Our Gen Sec, Mike Murphy, wrote an article recently about the importance of laser-generated plume.

https://mikemurphyblog.com/2020/06/16/laser-ipl-hair-removal-plume-and-precautions/

Laser/IPL Hair Removal – plume and precautions!!! I wrote an article for Aesthetics recently regarding the plume generated by laser/IPL hair removal and other treatments. All ablative treatments will generate a plume. In addition, many other laser…

Association of Laser Safety Professionals updated their business hours.

Both our Chairman, Mike Regan, and General Secretary, Mike Murphy, presented talks at this year's BMLA conference in London.

http://www.bmla.co.uk/bmla-conference-2019/

BMLA Conference 2019 - BMLA The next meeting of the BMLA will be on Wednesday 8th- Friday 10th May 2019 at the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre London Heathrow. We do hope you can join us. More information available at our CONFERENCE WEBSITE.

I've just been contacted by a lady with eye problems. She couldn't find her usual laser safety glasses and was about to treat some nail fungus

So she used her IPL glasses "because they offered protection between 200 and 2000nm". She used a QS laser at 1064nm followed by a second pass at 532nm.

She stopped after just a few shots of the 532nm energy because "it was blindingly bright". The 1064nm light would have been 'brighter', except it's invisible!

Later that day she started feeling pain 'behind' both eyes. Her optician says her eyes are "good" with no signs of damage.

I've advised her to go to her GP and seek a consultation with an eye specialist in hospital. Hopefully she will get a good response from him/her.

I've also told her that the glasses MUST protect against BOTH wavelengths and intensities (power densities). IPL glasses are completely useless for QS lasers. For most QS lasers used in tattoo removal you must use an Optical Density level of at least 7 - this means that they occlude those particular wavelengths by a factor of 10 to the power 7. I.e. 10,000,000.

The current value of the MPE for eyes at 1064nm indicates an OD of around 6.5 (for nanosecond pulses). Hence, stick to 7 and above to keep your eyes safe folks!!

https://aestheticsjournal.com/feature/the-last-word-safety-glasses

Aesthetics Journal The Aesthetics website incorporates a whole host of new interactive features and resources to support you in your aesthetics practice.

My article on laser safety in this month's Salon magazine.

An interesting article...

Laser safety: Risks, hazards, and control measures Now that laser technology has emerged from hospital operating rooms, and has become available to office practices, clinics, and private enterprises, the burden of responsibility for safety has shifted from hospital staff to the individual user, often ...

https://mikemurphyblog.com/2018/05/08/do-your-eyes-hurt-after-lasering/

Do your eyes hurt after ‘lasering’? Three times in three weeks I’ve heard the same comment – “my eyes hurt for a few hours after I’ve finished lasering”….. All three times that has raised alarm bel…

One of our LPAs, Rob Knowles, published an article in the Aesthetics Journal on the role of Laser Protection Advisers in the UK. Click here to read it. Edited with BlogPad Pro

http://alsp.blog/2018/02/01/the-role-of-an-lpa/

The Role of an LPA   One of our LPAs, Rob Knowles, published an article in the Aesthetics Journal on the role of Laser Protection Advisers in the UK. Click here to read it.    Edited with BlogPad …

We all know its a bad idea to stare at the sun. But this lady decided to do so during the recent eclipse in America, without the correct protective safety glasses. As a result her retinas were burnt with an image of the eclipsed sun! Many lasers output a much higher power than can be viewed from the sun at the Earth's surface. Read this unfortunate lady's story here... Edited with BlogPad Pro

http://alsp.blog/2017/12/10/dont-stare-at-the-sun-even-during-an-eclipse/

Don’t stare at the sun – even during an eclipse!   We all know its a bad idea to stare at the sun. But this lady decided to do so during the recent eclipse in America, without the correct protective safety glasses. As a result her retinas we…

This is what happens when you don't wear the correct protective glasses, even when looking at the sun. And remember, Class 4 lasers are much, much more intense than the sun!!

http://www.sciencealert.com/the-eclipse-burned-a-crescent-wound-onto-a-woman-s-retina-and-she-was-wearing-glasses

The Solar Eclipse Burned an Image of Itself Onto a Woman's Retina Like so many others, 26-year-old Nia Payne wanted to view August's historic solar eclipse but didn't have a pair of protective glasses.

Many pilots have reported laser flashes during take-off and landings from people on the ground using high-powered visible lasers. These devices are usually Class 4 and should not be used in a public place without proper safety considerations. As a result of an upsurge in 'attacks' on pilots BAE have developed a new film to minimise the effect of the laser energy on the pilots' eyes. Read this article for more information.

http://alsp.blog/2017/12/03/new-laser-protection-for-pilots/

New laser protection for pilots   Many pilots have reported laser flashes during take-off and landings from people on the ground using high-powered visible lasers. These devices are usually Class 4 and should not be used in …

Are you protecting your eyes properly during laser treatments?

https://mikemurphyblog.com/2016/09/27/laser-safety-glasses-are-you-safe/

Laser Safety Glasses – Are you safe? All laser users have to take responsibility for their laser safety glasses. Are they the right ones for the job? Are they properly specced? Do they comply with EU regulations? For more on th…

We recently were made aware of a study which investigated the X-ray emissions from a molybdenum target ablated by 35 femtosecond laser pulses - The authors found that the total emission can easily exceed the maximum annual equivalent dose of 1 mSv allowed within 60 minutes of irradiation. The implication is that any laser operator using such high peak power laser outputs to process materials may be subjected to excessive X-ray emissions. Many thanks to Dr Michal Wesolowski for bringing this to our attention.

http://alsp.blog/2017/11/07/x-ray-emissions-from-femtosecond-processed-materials/

X-ray emissions from femtosecond processed materials   We recently were made aware of a study which investigated the X-ray emissions from a molybdenum target ablated by 35 femtosecond laser pulses – The authors found that the total emissi…

Our new blog is now available at ALSP.blog.

If you wish to contact our Chairman, Mike Regan, you can reach him at his Twitter account - ‏ Likewise, our General secretary, Mike Murphy, can be found at also on Twitter.

http://alsp.blog/2017/11/04/chairman-of-the-alsp/

Chairman of the ALSP   If you wish to contact our Chairman, Mike Regan, you can reach him at his Twitter account – ‏ Likewise, our General secretary, Mike Murphy, can be found at …

Many potential dangers lurk with laser use. Lack of safety awareness is high on the list. Be sure you are running a safe laser environment by employing the services of an LPA.

Things can go badly wrong when laser safety is ignored...

Some very useful info here...

http://www.lasersafetyfacts.com/laserclasses.html

Make sure you have the proper laser warning signs on all your laser rooms!

The Association would like to wish you all a happy, healthy and safe new year!

Check out our new Twitter account - https://twitter.com/LaserAdvisers

Our web site - http://www.laserprotectionadviser.com/

Home The Association of Laser Safety Professionals (ALSP) is a professional society of laser safety experts actively engaged in providing advice, support and training in laser safety, and covers all applications of laser technology. The primary aims of the Association are: - to provide a forum in the UK…

https://www.facebook.com/DermaLaseTraining/?fref=ts

DermaLase Laser & IPL Training Services DermaLase provides training (in Glasgow, over Zoom or at your site) on basic laser-tissue physics an