Product Code: ILSC2009_1005_2

Compliance of SLAC's Laser Safety Program with the SLAC Control of the Hazardous Energy (COHE) Program
Authors:
Michael Woods, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center; Redwood City CA USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

The laser safety program at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) must comply with OSHA Regulation 29CFR1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout). The OSHA regulation covers the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or start up of the machines or equipment, or release of stored energy could cause injury to employees. Class 3b and Class 4 laser radiation must be considered as hazardous energy (as well as electrical energy in associated equipment, and other non-beam energy hazards) in laser facilities, and therefore requires careful COHE (Control of Hazardous Energy) consideration. The ANSI Z136.1 laser safety standard provides almost no discussion or guidance on COHE, other than to state that all energy sources associated with Class 3B or Class 4 lasers or laser systems shall be designed to permit lockout/tagout procedures required by OSHA. This paper will discuss how COHE is evaluated and implemented for SLACs Class 3B and Class 4 laser systems.