Laser Safety Officer Exam Questions
and Answers
Radiant Energy - Correct Answers -Energy that is emitted, transferred or received.
Measured in Joules
Radiant Power - Correct Answers -Power emitted, transferred, or received in the form of
radiation. Measured in Watts
Irradiance - Correct Answers -Radiant power striking a surface divided by the area it is
striking W/cm2
Radiant Exposure - Correct Answers -Exposure over a particular area divided by the
area it is striking W/cm2
What does Laser stand for? - Correct Answers -Light Amplification by Stimulated
Emission of Radiation
What does a laser consist of? - Correct Answers -A Pumping System - What imparts
energy to the atoms of the lasing medium
An Optical Cavity - Contains the medium, has mirrors and provides
amplification/selection of photons
Laser medium - Can be solid state (ND:YAG), gaseous (HeNe, CO2, Ar,Kr), dye lasers
(Rhodamine 6G), and semiconductor
What are the four modes of laser operation? - Correct Answers -Continuous Wave -
Beam time over 0.25s
Single Pulsed -
Single Pulsed Q-switched - stored to increase power before release
Repetitively pulsed - Pulsed repetitively
The different time modes provide different rates at which energy is delivered
What is the purpose of the laser medical surveillance program? - Correct Answers -
Prevent aggravation of pre-existing conditions
Detect dev of physiological conditions aggravated by continued exposure
Provide info concerning effects from an overexposure and a complete med history for
the duration of personnel employment.
What records must be maintained for a laser safety program? - Correct Answers -
Inventory of laser systems/protective devices
Applicable SOPs, regs, instructions
, Local training history with attendance records
LSO certs/dates
What are you looking for in the Conceptual Site Model. - Correct Answers -Evaluate the
lasers hazards to determine the type and degree of threats at each workplace
What are the responsibilities of the Installation Commander? - Correct Answers -
Establishes procedures and programs. Appoints an ILSO and delegates authority to
them.
What are the responsibilities of the Installation Laser Safety Officer? - Correct Answers -
Develops and manages the Installation Laser Safety Program
What are the responsibilities of the Unit LSO - Correct Answers -Manages the Unit
Laser Safety Program
What are the responsibilities of Public Health? - Correct Answers -Assist in laser injury
investigations and enter into AFSAS
What are three characteristics of a laser beam - Correct Answers -They are single
wavelength (monochromatic) that are tightly in phase with each other (coherent), and
they are tightly focused (collimated)
What are the two main US Government agencies involved in laser regulation? - Correct
Answers -OSHA and FDA
What AFI covers the Laser Radiation protection program - Correct Answers -AFI 48-
139, we also use ANSI 136.1
What constitutes a class 1 laser? - Correct Answers -Cannot emit laser radiation
capable of causing eye/skin injury.
A 1M is similar, but can cause damage if passed through magnifying optics.
These may be a higher class during maintenance/service
What constitutes a class 2 laser? - Correct Answers -2 - Staring into beam is an eye
hazard. CW max 1mW
2M - Potentially hazardous if collecting optics are used;
CW max 500mW
These lasers are in the visible light spectrum 400-700nm
What constitutes a class 3 laser? - Correct Answers -3R - Marginally unsafe for direct
and specular viewing.
CW max 5mW
3B - Unsafe for direct and specular viewing. Usually not unsafe for diffuse viewing. CW
max = 500mW
and Answers
Radiant Energy - Correct Answers -Energy that is emitted, transferred or received.
Measured in Joules
Radiant Power - Correct Answers -Power emitted, transferred, or received in the form of
radiation. Measured in Watts
Irradiance - Correct Answers -Radiant power striking a surface divided by the area it is
striking W/cm2
Radiant Exposure - Correct Answers -Exposure over a particular area divided by the
area it is striking W/cm2
What does Laser stand for? - Correct Answers -Light Amplification by Stimulated
Emission of Radiation
What does a laser consist of? - Correct Answers -A Pumping System - What imparts
energy to the atoms of the lasing medium
An Optical Cavity - Contains the medium, has mirrors and provides
amplification/selection of photons
Laser medium - Can be solid state (ND:YAG), gaseous (HeNe, CO2, Ar,Kr), dye lasers
(Rhodamine 6G), and semiconductor
What are the four modes of laser operation? - Correct Answers -Continuous Wave -
Beam time over 0.25s
Single Pulsed -
Single Pulsed Q-switched - stored to increase power before release
Repetitively pulsed - Pulsed repetitively
The different time modes provide different rates at which energy is delivered
What is the purpose of the laser medical surveillance program? - Correct Answers -
Prevent aggravation of pre-existing conditions
Detect dev of physiological conditions aggravated by continued exposure
Provide info concerning effects from an overexposure and a complete med history for
the duration of personnel employment.
What records must be maintained for a laser safety program? - Correct Answers -
Inventory of laser systems/protective devices
Applicable SOPs, regs, instructions
, Local training history with attendance records
LSO certs/dates
What are you looking for in the Conceptual Site Model. - Correct Answers -Evaluate the
lasers hazards to determine the type and degree of threats at each workplace
What are the responsibilities of the Installation Commander? - Correct Answers -
Establishes procedures and programs. Appoints an ILSO and delegates authority to
them.
What are the responsibilities of the Installation Laser Safety Officer? - Correct Answers -
Develops and manages the Installation Laser Safety Program
What are the responsibilities of the Unit LSO - Correct Answers -Manages the Unit
Laser Safety Program
What are the responsibilities of Public Health? - Correct Answers -Assist in laser injury
investigations and enter into AFSAS
What are three characteristics of a laser beam - Correct Answers -They are single
wavelength (monochromatic) that are tightly in phase with each other (coherent), and
they are tightly focused (collimated)
What are the two main US Government agencies involved in laser regulation? - Correct
Answers -OSHA and FDA
What AFI covers the Laser Radiation protection program - Correct Answers -AFI 48-
139, we also use ANSI 136.1
What constitutes a class 1 laser? - Correct Answers -Cannot emit laser radiation
capable of causing eye/skin injury.
A 1M is similar, but can cause damage if passed through magnifying optics.
These may be a higher class during maintenance/service
What constitutes a class 2 laser? - Correct Answers -2 - Staring into beam is an eye
hazard. CW max 1mW
2M - Potentially hazardous if collecting optics are used;
CW max 500mW
These lasers are in the visible light spectrum 400-700nm
What constitutes a class 3 laser? - Correct Answers -3R - Marginally unsafe for direct
and specular viewing.
CW max 5mW
3B - Unsafe for direct and specular viewing. Usually not unsafe for diffuse viewing. CW
max = 500mW
