Laser Safety Terms in ANSI Exam
Questions and Answers
ablation - Correct Answers -tissue removal by laser action
Administrative control measure - Correct Answers -Control measures incorporating
administrative means , e.g., training safety approvals, LSO designation, and P&P, to
mitigate the potential hazards associated with laser use.
average power - Correct Answers -the total energy imparted during exposure divided by
the exposure duration
aversion response - Correct Answers -closure of the eyelid, eye movement, pupillary
constriction, or movement of the head to avoid an exposure to a noxious or bright light
stimulant.
blink reflex - Correct Answers -lid closure associated with the involuntary upward
movement of the eye, triggered by an external event such as an irritation of the cornea
or conjunctiva, a bright flash, the rapid approach of an object, an auditory stimulus, or
with facial movements.
collateral radiation - Correct Answers -Any electromagnetic radiation, except laser,
emitted by a laser or laser system, which is physically necessary for its operation.
collimated beam - Correct Answers -Effectively, a "parallel" beam of light with very low
divergence or convergence.
Continuous Wave (CW) - Correct Answers -The output of a laser which is operated in a
continuous rather than a pulsed mode. In this standard, a laser operating with a
continuous output for a period >_ 0.25 seconds is regarded as a CW laser.
Deputy Laser Safety Officer (DLSO) - Correct Answers -The person authorized and
responsible for managing the laser safety program, in the absence of the LSO.
diffraction - Correct Answers -Deviation of part of a beam, determined by the wave
nature of radiation and occurring when the radiation passes the edge of an opaque
obstacle.
radiant energy - Correct Answers -energy emitted, transferred, or received in the form of
radiation expressed in units of joules (J).
, radiant exposure - Correct Answers -surface density of the radiant energy received. The
SI unit of radiant exposure is joules per square meter (J*m^-2) or joules per centimeter
squared (J*cm^-2).
radiant flux - Correct Answers -power emitted, transferred, or received in the form of
radiation expressed in units of watts(W).
radiant intensity - Correct Answers -quotient of the radiant flux leaving a source and
propagated in an element of solid angle containing the given direction, by the element of
solid angle expressed in units of watts per steradiam (W*sr^-1).
radiant power - Correct Answers -Power emitted, transferred or received in the form of
radiation.
reflectance - Correct Answers -The ratio of total reflected power to total incident power.
diffuse reflection - Correct Answers -Change of the spatial distribution of a beam of
radiation when it is reflected in many directions by a surface or by a medium.
divergence - Correct Answers -The increase in the diameter of the laser beam with
propagation distance from the exit aperture. Also known as Beam Spread.
embedded laser - Correct Answers -A laser with an assigned hazard classification
higher than the classification of the laser system in which it is incorporated, where the
system's lower classification is the result of engineering features which limit the
accessible emission.
energy - Correct Answers -The capacity of doing work. Energy content is commonly
used to characterize the output from pulsed lasers, and is generally expressed in joules
(J).
engineering control measure - Correct Answers -Control measures designed or
incorporated into the laser or laser system, e.g., interlocks, shutters, watch-dog timer
circuits, etc., or its application
extended source - Correct Answers -A source of radiation that can be resolved by the
eye into geometrical image, in contrast to a point source of radiation that cannot be
resolved into a geometrical image.
failsafe interlock - Correct Answers -An interlock where the failure of a single
mechanical or electrical component of the interlock will cause the system to go into, or
remain in, a safe mode.
fire retardant - Correct Answers -A material that does not support combustion without an
external source of heat such as a laser.
Questions and Answers
ablation - Correct Answers -tissue removal by laser action
Administrative control measure - Correct Answers -Control measures incorporating
administrative means , e.g., training safety approvals, LSO designation, and P&P, to
mitigate the potential hazards associated with laser use.
average power - Correct Answers -the total energy imparted during exposure divided by
the exposure duration
aversion response - Correct Answers -closure of the eyelid, eye movement, pupillary
constriction, or movement of the head to avoid an exposure to a noxious or bright light
stimulant.
blink reflex - Correct Answers -lid closure associated with the involuntary upward
movement of the eye, triggered by an external event such as an irritation of the cornea
or conjunctiva, a bright flash, the rapid approach of an object, an auditory stimulus, or
with facial movements.
collateral radiation - Correct Answers -Any electromagnetic radiation, except laser,
emitted by a laser or laser system, which is physically necessary for its operation.
collimated beam - Correct Answers -Effectively, a "parallel" beam of light with very low
divergence or convergence.
Continuous Wave (CW) - Correct Answers -The output of a laser which is operated in a
continuous rather than a pulsed mode. In this standard, a laser operating with a
continuous output for a period >_ 0.25 seconds is regarded as a CW laser.
Deputy Laser Safety Officer (DLSO) - Correct Answers -The person authorized and
responsible for managing the laser safety program, in the absence of the LSO.
diffraction - Correct Answers -Deviation of part of a beam, determined by the wave
nature of radiation and occurring when the radiation passes the edge of an opaque
obstacle.
radiant energy - Correct Answers -energy emitted, transferred, or received in the form of
radiation expressed in units of joules (J).
, radiant exposure - Correct Answers -surface density of the radiant energy received. The
SI unit of radiant exposure is joules per square meter (J*m^-2) or joules per centimeter
squared (J*cm^-2).
radiant flux - Correct Answers -power emitted, transferred, or received in the form of
radiation expressed in units of watts(W).
radiant intensity - Correct Answers -quotient of the radiant flux leaving a source and
propagated in an element of solid angle containing the given direction, by the element of
solid angle expressed in units of watts per steradiam (W*sr^-1).
radiant power - Correct Answers -Power emitted, transferred or received in the form of
radiation.
reflectance - Correct Answers -The ratio of total reflected power to total incident power.
diffuse reflection - Correct Answers -Change of the spatial distribution of a beam of
radiation when it is reflected in many directions by a surface or by a medium.
divergence - Correct Answers -The increase in the diameter of the laser beam with
propagation distance from the exit aperture. Also known as Beam Spread.
embedded laser - Correct Answers -A laser with an assigned hazard classification
higher than the classification of the laser system in which it is incorporated, where the
system's lower classification is the result of engineering features which limit the
accessible emission.
energy - Correct Answers -The capacity of doing work. Energy content is commonly
used to characterize the output from pulsed lasers, and is generally expressed in joules
(J).
engineering control measure - Correct Answers -Control measures designed or
incorporated into the laser or laser system, e.g., interlocks, shutters, watch-dog timer
circuits, etc., or its application
extended source - Correct Answers -A source of radiation that can be resolved by the
eye into geometrical image, in contrast to a point source of radiation that cannot be
resolved into a geometrical image.
failsafe interlock - Correct Answers -An interlock where the failure of a single
mechanical or electrical component of the interlock will cause the system to go into, or
remain in, a safe mode.
fire retardant - Correct Answers -A material that does not support combustion without an
external source of heat such as a laser.
