The Ugly Truth About Laser Radiation Exposure To Your Eyes !
In the time that it takes to blink an eye, laser radiation damage to the eye may have already occurred. Unprotected exposure of your eyes to lasers can result in the development of cataracts or even a corneal burn, which can result in vision loss.
If you are working with or around lasers, it is very important to understand the consequences of laser radiation exposure and the safety precautions you should take when working around them.
Danger of Laser radiation
Lasers used for laser welding applications radiate in the infrared spectra, which are not visible to the humaneye.
The intensive fiber laser light radiate in the visible spectrum but invisible for humans, is especially dangerous to the eye. Fibre laser radiation penetrate through to the retina which can be destroyed irrevocably by relatively little radiation.
Misdirected laser radiation can come directly from the laser and threaten the eyes as a result of a faulty parameter setting, an opened cover, a displaced mirror etc. Other hazards include skin burn or inflammation from combustible materials as a result of misdirected laserradiation. The greatest hazard, however, usually stems from reflected laser radiation: the major share of the laser radiation is reflected by coldmaterial first. To this we can add reflections of work piece edges, as a result of turbulence in the weld pool etc.
Misdirected radiation and reflections must be blocked off. That is why the law stipulates that the laser beam and the work zone must be in an enclosure. Beyond that, all those present, and the machine operators in particular, should wear protective goggles that are appropriate for the laser radiation being used. Fbre laser radiation are very dangerous to the eye and require special protective measures andapproved safety goggles.
Standard protective welding goggles made of glass or acrylic glass are not suitable at all,
as glass and acrylic glass allow fibre laser radiation to pass through!
Laser Wavelengths
Just like ordinary light, laser beams come in all colors. They measure light in nanometers (nm), the light’s wavelength.
There are three main ranges of light wavelengths:
- Ultraviolet – 100-400 nm
- Visible – 440-750 nm - The visible range of laser light goes from violet to red just like a rainbow.
- Infrared – 750nm to 1mm (Laser Welding frequency belongs to the IR-light range (Infra-Red)
Infrared lasers pose a particular hazard. Because they cannot be seen, they do not trigger the eye’s blink reflex.
Our Welding Lasers use the dangerous Infrared laserlight
Offering Laser Safety Glasses and Laser Safety Goggles, laser protection Windows and laser protection film
When buying laser safety glasses and goggles, or protection window/protection film, be sure to select the laser glasses to block or attenuate the appropriate wavelength range and Optical Density (OD).
We are offering a full product line of laser protection glasses which protect the eyes from Class 4 laser systems.
All Lasermach's Safety eye-wear meet or exceed ANSI Standards for the appropriate laser safety systems and
is special adapted to laser welding and laser cleaning
Standard handheld laser welding and laser cleaning is using the Infrared A laser Range of 1076 nm (+-5nm)
Never use surface coated protection Glasses
Every little scratch in the coating let full acces to your eye for the dangerous laser light!!
Use only in fully Mass tinted glasses, with fully protection in the glasses itself.
Never use surface coated glasses as the slightest scratch in the tiny surface coating makes your glases unsafe and not more usable for laser welding!
Don't let your eyes destroy by cheaper but coated safety glasses!!
Laser safety: Laser protection class 4 applies to our handheld and robot laser welding equipment when in operation.
PhotonWeld Laser Welding Series = Most dangerous : Class 4
This class 4 covers most powerful and dangerous lasers
Class 4 lasers can cause permanent eye injury through either direct exposure or reflected light.
They can also burn the skin and cause fires.
All lasers used in welding industry, surface cleaning industry and metal cutting industry are Class 4.
Different measures are therefore required on the customer side to ensure laser safety, such as:
=>the appropriate training of employees,
=>wearing special protective equipment and
=<setting up a separate laser safety area.
EYE AND SKIN DAMAGE
Laser system eye and skin hazards are addressed in the laser safety standards. In many use situations, special laser eye protective devices are required. According to the safety standard, this eyewear must be labeled with both the optical density (protective factor) and wavelength(s) for which the protection is afforded. The protective eyewear must be compatible with the manufacturer’s specifications for the laser system in use, to ensure that the eyewear is suitable. In addition to the primary hazard of the laser beam, there may be a considerable eye hazard from high levels of secondary radiation. The safety standard requires that the eyes be protected from this secondary radiation in addition to the primary laser beam. A precaution must be added here—standard safety glasses alone do not provide protection. Any laser eyewear, plain or prescription, must be labeled with the wavelength(s) of protection and the optical density at that wavelength(s). In some laser systems, infrared light may be leaked into the workplace. Thus the eyewear should provide primary beam protection, secondary radiation protection, and also infrared protection.
Your EYES protectors
Build by Safety glasses specialists - PPE safety glasses build by Safety specialists for Lasermach
Laser Safety Windows
Laser safety Window film/foil
Laser protection film/foil to put on standard windows for full eye protection
The Lasermach Safety team is proud to provide a high-quality laser window film. Our PhotonSafe® laser protective removable window films can be used on your laser welding rooms windows to protect external persons from the glare of the welding lasers.
Download our special on Laser welding eyes protection
Get our Laser Welding Eyes protection special
Lasermach laser welding protection glasses - laser welding protection goggles - laser welding protection face shields - laser welding protection helmets - laser welding protection for eyes
GOTO our Download page to download the manual and price list
Rules of conduct on the safe use of lasers
The following rules are of particular importance:
- Never point the laser beam at anyone’s eyes!
- Do not look directly into a laser beam!
- Always wear protection glasses!
- If the laser light accidentally strikes your eyes,
- close your eyes and immediately move your head out of the laser beam.
- Do not use any focusing optical device to look at the laser beam while working with lasers.