A laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) device, comprising: a laser configured to direct a laser beam through a sample chamber to a surface of a sample, and a spectrometer configured to detect a spectral distribution of emissions from the sample in response to the laser beam; a user interface comprising a menu of choices that include a plurality of measurement challenges associated with LIBS, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a user input indicative of a selected measurement challenge from the menu; and two or more complementary safety mechanisms (15a-d) that are selected from the group consisting of: a chamber pressure based safety mechanism configured to receive a detected parameter within the sample chamber; a chamber light based safety mechanism configured to receive a detected parameter within the sample chamber; a conductive sample based safety mechanism configured to receive a detected conductive property of the sample; and a spectral-feedback based safety mechanism configured to receive the spectral distribution from the spectrometer; the device further comprising a processor configured to disable signals from safety mechanisms that are incompatible based on information stored in the device and the user input indicative of a selected measurement challenge, wherein the processor is further configured: to permit laser operation in cases where no safety mechanism is activated or where the combination of compatible safety mechanisms associated with the input measurement challenge allows operation; and to prevent laser operation where at least one safety mechanism is activated and the combination of compatible safety mechanisms that is activated is not associated with allowable operation for the input measurement challenge. a laser configured to direct a laser beam through a sample chamber to a surface of a sample, and a spectrometer configured to detect a spectral distribution of emissions from the sample in response to the laser beam; a user interface comprising a menu of choices that include a plurality of measurement challenges associated with LIBS, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a user input indicative of a selected measurement challenge from the menu; and two or more complementary safety mechanisms (15a-d) that are selected from the group consisting of: a chamber pressure based safety mechanism configured to receive a detected parameter within the sample chamber; a chamber light based safety mechanism configured to receive a detected parameter within the sample chamber; a conductive sample based safety mechanism configured to receive a detected conductive property of the sample; and a spectral-feedback based safety mechanism configured to receive the spectral distribution from the spectrometer; the device further comprising a processor configured to disable signals from safety mechanisms that are incompatible based on information stored in the device and the user input indicative of a selected measurement challenge, wherein the processor is further configured: to permit laser operation in cases where no safety mechanism is activated or where the combination of compatible safety mechanisms associated with the input measurement challenge allows operation; and to prevent laser operation where at least one safety mechanism is activated and the combination of compatible safety mechanisms that is activated is not associated with allowable operation for the input measurement challenge. a chamber pressure based safety mechanism configured to receive a detected parameter within the sample chamber; a chamber light based safety mechanism configured to receive a detected parameter within the sample chamber; a conductive sample based safety mechanism configured to receive a detected conductive property of the sample; and a spectral-feedback based safety mechanism configured to receive the spectral distribution from the spectrometer; the device further comprising a processor configured to disable signals from safety mechanisms that are incompatible based on information stored in the device and the user input indicative of a selected measurement challenge, wherein the processor is further configured: to permit laser operation in cases where no safety mechanism is activated or where the combination of compatible safety mechanisms associated with the input measurement challenge allows operation; and to prevent laser operation where at least one safety mechanism is activated and the combination of compatible safety mechanisms that is activated is not associated with allowable operation for the input measurement challenge. to permit laser operation in cases where no safety mechanism is activated or where the combination of compatible safety mechanisms associated with the input measurement challenge allows operation; and to prevent laser operation where at least one safety mechanism is activated and the combination of compatible safety mechanisms that is activated is not associated with allowable operation for the input measurement challenge.