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ASC Z136 News - Standards on the Horizon, Part II

In the last issue of the BLS News & Review, I told you about the standards recently approved and impending releases. Now let's talk about standards starting the revision process.

Z136.7, American National Standard for Testing and Labeling of Laser Protective Equipment – the first edition of this standard was published in early 2008; the standards subcommittee responsible for its development is SSC–7. Dr. James Sheehy was reinstated as the subcommittee's chair last summer (June 2011); the public notice for revising the document was announced in ANSI's Standards Action this past February.

The scope of the document is to provide recommendations for the testing requirements and labeling of protective equipment (devices) designed for use with lasers and laser systems that operate at wavelengths between 180 nm and 1 mm. The stakeholders have been defined as the user base of DoD (military) and industry, (e.g., medical device manufacturers including manufacturers of protective eyewear, laboratories, health physicists and safety engineers). If you fit into this stakeholders group, or have an interest in the development/revision of this document, now is the time to join SSC-7. Dr. Sheehy will be holding a subcommittee meeting this fall in San Antonio, TX, specific date to be determined.

Z136.4, American National Standard Recommended Practice for Laser Safety Measurements for Hazard Evaluation – a companion document to ANSI Z136.1 Safe Use of Lasers, this standard provides practical guidance for the measurement of those parameters necessary for the classification and evaluation of optical radiation hazards associated with lasers. A companion document to Z136.1, Mr. Jeffrey Pfoutz, who was approved as SSC-4 chair at the annual meeting in February, will be reconstituting standards subcommittee 4 (SSC-4) following public notice that the revision process is imminent. 

Mr. Pfoutz plans to hold a kick-off meeting in conjunction with the International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC) in March 2013. If you are interested in participating on SSC–4, please apply for subcommittee membership on the Z136 website.

Note – active participation in laser safety standards or regulations committees external of your organization earns 1 CM point per year. 

Note 2 – the majority of subcommittee work (main committee work as well) is conducted via the Z136 website and by email correspondence.

ASC Z136 Subcommittee and IEC TC76 WG Chairs – space is available for ancillary meetings at ILSC (concurrent with sessions). If you would like to reserve meeting space, please contact Barbara Sams at 407.380.1553 or email Barbara Sams.