1. A. A registrant shall:

   1. 1. Not use a laser product regulated under this Article, unless the laser product is registered by the Department according to R9-7-1402.

   2. 2. Not use or allow the use of a laser product that will result in a human exposure that exceeds:

      1. a. The applicable maximum permissible exposure, determined according to ANSI Z136.1-2022 or ANSI Z136.3-2024, as applicable, incorporated in R9-7-1407(A); or
      2. b. The accessible emission limit, determined according to 21 CFR 1040.10, incorporated under R9-7-1406(A);

   3. 3. Not allow an individual to do any of the following if the intensity of the beam or the beam’s reflections exceeds the applicable maximum permissible exposure:

      1. a. Look directly into a laser beam,
      2. b. Look directly at reflected light from a laser beam, or
      3. c. Align a laser by eye while looking along the axis of the laser beam;
   4. 4. Not allow an individual to enter a laser controlled area if the skin exposure exceeds the applicable maximum permissible exposure, unless the registrant provides and requires the use of protective clothing, gloves, and shields; and
   5. 5. Ensure that any laser product, emitting spatially scanned laser radiation, does not, as a result of scan failure or any other failure that causes a change in angular velocity or amplitude, allow human access to laser radiation that exceeds the accessible emission limits applicable to that class of laser product.
2. B. A registrant shall not allow exposure to collateral radiation that exceeds an accessible emission limit determined according to subsection (A)(2)(b).

3. C. A registrant shall:

   1. 1. Designate a Laser Safety Officer;
   2. 2. Ensure the Laser Safety Officer has training that covers the subjects listed in R9-7-1410;

   3. 3. Ensure that an individual operating a laser product is trained and has demonstrated competence in the safe use of the laser product through training that:

      1. a. Is specific to the laser product to be used and the procedures to be performed, including:

         1. i. Laser and laser system classifications;
         2. ii. A description of the laser product to be used, including construction, operating information, and other basic information;
         3. iii. Fundamentals of laser radiation, including physical principles and the significance of reflected or scattered light from a laser beam;
         4. iv. Typical laser settings for the procedures to be performed; and
         5. v. Responsibilities of operators of a laser product and of individuals supervising the operator;

      2. b. Addresses hazards associated with laser product use, including:

         1. i. The potential biological effects of laser radiation on the eye and skin, including absorption and wavelength effects;
         2. ii. Explosive, electrical, chemical, and other hazards;
         3. iii. Thermal effects; and
         4. iv. Ionizing radiation hazards, including x-rays from power sources and target interactions, if applicable; and

      3. c. Addresses safety considerations and methods to minimize the hazards associated with laser product use, including:

         1. i. Controlled access to an area while the laser product is in use;
         2. ii. Use of protective eyewear or other protective devices, as applicable;
         3. iii. Other methods to minimize the hazards associated with laser product use and to improve safety; and
         4. iv. Medical surveillance practices, if applicable;
   4. 4. If an individual operating a laser product is a health professional, ensure that the individual is operating the laser product within the individual’s scope of practice;
   5. 5. Provide policies and procedures developed by the Laser Safety Officer to ensure safe operation of the laser to each individual who operates a laser;
   6. 6. Ensure that an individual who operates a laser is aware of operating restrictions and procedures associated with the safe use of the laser;
   7. 7. Establish and maintain a laser radiation safety program;

   8. 8. If required by subsection (D) to establish a laser controlled area, conduct a laser radiation protection survey as follows to ensure compliance with subsection (D) before initial use of a laser, following system modifications, and at intervals that do not exceed six months:

      1. a. Determine whether each laser protective device required in R9-7-1407 is labeled according to R9-7-1407(H), is functioning within the design specifications, and meets the standards in 21 CFR 1040.10, incorporated under R9-7-1406(A), according to the type and class of laser in use;
      2. b. Determine whether each visual or audible indicator required according to R9-7-1407(G) is functioning within design specifications;
      3. c. Determine whether the laser controlled area is identified, controlled, and posted with accurate warning signs in accordance with R9-7-1407;
      4. d. Reevaluate potential hazards from surfaces that are associated with Class 3b and Class 4 beam paths; and
      5. e. Evaluate a laser and collateral radiation hazard incident to the use of lasers;

   9. 9. Require that protective eyewear, as specified by the Laser Safety Officer, be worn by an individual who has access to:

      1. a. Class 4 laser radiation, or
      2. b. Class 3b laser radiation; and

   10. 10. Provide protective eyewear that is:

       1. a. Marked with a label that indicates the optical density protection afforded for the relevant laser wavelength,
       2. b. Maintained so that the protective properties of the eyewear are preserved,
       3. c. Inspected at intervals that do not exceed six months to ensure integrity of the protective properties, and
       4. d. Removed from service if the protective properties of the eyewear fall below the optical density on the label.

4. D. If it is possible for an individual to be exposed to laser radiation that exceeds the applicable maximum permissible exposure in subsection (A)(2)(a) or accessible emission limit in subsection (A)(2)(b) from either a Class 3b laser with visible peak power of at least 5 milliwatts or a Class 4 laser, a registrant shall:

   1. 1. Establish a laser controlled area for the laser; and

   2. 2. Ensure that:

      1. a. The Laser Safety Officer establishes conditions to restrict access to the laser-controlled area;
      2. b. The Laser Safety Officer is responsible for the laser controlled area;
      3. c. The laser controlled area is posted in accordance with R9-7-1407(H);
      4. d. The Laser Safety Officer or a trained, designated representative authorizes access to the laser controlled area;

      5. e. Except for an indoor laser controlled area associated with a Class 4 laser used under R9-7-1412 or R9-7-1414, the laser controlled area is:

         1. i. Equipped with latches, interlocks, or another means of preventing unexpected entry into the laser controlled area;
         2. ii. Equipped with a control‑disconnect switch, panic button, or an equivalent device for deactivating the laser during an emergency;
         3. iii. Operated so that the operator of a laser in the laser controlled area can momentarily override the safety interlocks during tests that require continuous operation to provide access to other personnel if there is no optical radiation hazard at the point of entry and the entering personnel are wearing required protective devices; and
         4. iv. Except as specified in subsection (D)(2)(f), controlled in a way that reduces the transmitted values of laser radiation through optical paths, such as windows, to levels at or below the applicable ocular maximum permissible exposure and accessible emission limit determined according to subsection (A)(2); and
      6. f. If a laser beam with an irradiance or radiant-exposure above the applicable maximum permissible exposure or accessible emission limit will exit an indoor laser controlled area, such as for exterior atmospheric beam paths, the beam path is limited to the air space or ground space controlled by the laser facility.

5. E. If a panel or protective cover of a laser is removed or an interlock bypassed for service, testing, or maintenance, a registrant shall:

   1. 1. Establish an accessible laser controlled area; and
   2. 2. Through a Laser Safety Officer or a designated representative, comply with laser safety requirements in this Section and R9-7-1407 for all potentially-exposed individuals.

6. F. A registrant shall maintain the following records for Department inspection for at least three years after the last date on the record:

   1. 1. Results of all physical surveys made to determine compliance with this Article;
   2. 2. Radiation source inventories for all sources of laser radiation possessed by the registrant;
   3. 3. Maintenance, service, and modification records;
   4. 4. Records of protective eyewear maintenance, inspection, and removal from service;
   5. 5. Any restriction in operating procedures necessary to prevent unnecessary or excessive exposure to laser radiation or collateral radiation;
   6. 6. Incident reports of known or suspected exposure to laser radiation or collateral radiation that exceeds the maximum permissible exposure for a laser possessed by the registrant; and
   7. 7. Results of medical surveillance to determine extent of injury resulting from exposure to laser radiation or collateral radiation.

Historical Note

New Section R9-7-1408 recodified from R12-1-1408 at 24 A.A.R. 813, effective March 22, 2018 (Supp. 18-1).

Section R9-7-1408 repealed; new Section R9-7-1408 made by final expedited rulemaking at 32 A.A.R. 721 (March 27, 2026, Issue 13) with an immediate effective date of March 5, 2026 (Supp. 26-1).