Rick, This is going to be real brief because there is a heck of a lot to this There is a classification described as inherently eye safe. They are class 1 lasers and hopefully that's what you scouts had. The FDA controls the classifications, in the US and IEC 825 (I think that's the number) is the guide for Europe. There are basically in a couple of categories. The output power and the frequency output. The output power is pretty straightforward. If you get too high then you have to start doing things to protect against inadvertent exposure, such as interlocking the device using the laser for maintenance etc. The frequency is also a concern because the wavelength can affect the whites or the eye or the Iris. Things of that nature. The actual exposure is weighted over time, frequency and power output I believe. Can lasers be hazardous - you bet. Ronnie and the boys were going to blow up incoming missiles with lasers, doctors cut tissue with them etc. But they can also be reduced to such a small power output, 50 mW that they should not be harmful. Even with class 1 lasers prolonged exposure to the beam should be avoided if for no other reason than common sense, but incidental short term exposure doesn't seem to be harmful. Boy scouts and laser wars were probably not intended to be combined, but I'll bet the standard doesn't address this issue. Gary McInturff -----Original Message----- From: rbus...@es.com [SMTP:rbus...@es.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 1998 7:22 AM To: jeanmarie.vandenbul...@barco.com; emc-p...@ieee.org Subject: RE: Laser pointers
As a tie to this discussion, could someone clarify the Laser pointer classes? Are all of them Class 3 or higher or are there Class 2 and below. Interestingly enough, I took a group of scouts on an activity last week and several kids pulled out Laser pointers and had "Light Battles" between themselves. What is the consensus of the group on potential hazards from misuse of these devices? Should Class 3 and higher be banned? Thanks Rick Busche rbus...@es.com <mailto:rbus...@es.com> -----Original Message----- From: jeanmarie.vandenbul...@barco.com [mailto:jeanmarie.vandenbul...@barco.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 1998 7:26 AM To: emc-p...@ieee.org Subject: Laser pointers Dear group, FYI: For reason of consumer protection, laser pointers of class 3 and higher, according to EN60825-1, are banned for a period of one year from the Belgian market. Products already in commerce should be removed from the stores. This ruling was published on 16 September 1998 in the official "Belgisch Staatsblad - Moniteur Belge" by Ministrial Decree No. 98-2461. Are there any other countries that also have a ban on the sales of laser pointers of class 3 and higher? Jean-Marie Vandenbulcke Snr. Product Safety and Compliance Engineer. Barco NV Div Barco Projection Systems Noordlaan 5 B-8520 Kuurne Belgium Tel: + 32 56 36 83 31 Fax: + 32 56 36 83 55 E-mail: jeanmarie.vandenbul...@barco.com Web: http://www.barco.com --------- This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to majord...@ieee.org with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the quotes). For help, send mail to ed.pr...@cubic.com, j...@gwmail.monarch.com, ri...@sdd.hp.com, or roger.volgst...@compaq.com (the list administrators). --------- This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to majord...@ieee.org with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the quotes). For help, send mail to ed.pr...@cubic.com, j...@gwmail.monarch.com, ri...@sdd.hp.com, or roger.volgst...@compaq.com (the list administrators). --------- This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to majord...@ieee.org with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the quotes). For help, send mail to ed.pr...@cubic.com, j...@gwmail.monarch.com, ri...@sdd.hp.com, or roger.volgst...@compaq.com (the list administrators).