New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 12 - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR › Chapter I - Industrial Board Of Appeals › Subchapter A - The Industrial Code › Part 50 - Lasers › Section 50.4 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
As used herein or in connection with this Part (rule), the
					 following terms mean:
(a) Angstrom
				  (A). A unit of length used mainly to expressing length of electromagnetic
				  waves. An Angstrom is equal to 10-10 meter, 10-8centimeter or 10-4
				  micron.
(b) Approved. In respect to
				  a device or material: in compliance with an existing resolution of approval
				  adopted by the commissioner; in respect to action by the commissioner: made the
				  subject of a resolution of approval.
(c) Beam divergence. The full angle of laser
				  beam spread usually measured at the half power points in radians or
				  milliradians.
(d) Certificate of
				  competence. A document issued to the operator of a mobile laser by the
				  commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this Part (rule).
(e) Certified mobile laser operator. Any
				  individual holding a valid certificate of competence issued by the commissioner
				  in accordance with the provisions of this Part (rule).
(f) Closed installations. Any installation
				  where lasers are used and the entry to which is controlled while any laser
				  therein is being operated.
(g)
				  Commissioner. The Commissioner of Labor of the State of New York or his duly
				  authorized representative.
(h) C.W.
				  laser. A continuous wave laser.
(i)
				  Designated individual. An individual selected and directed by a laser safety
				  officer to supervise the operation of a laser.
(j) Employee. An individual employed; one who
				  works for wages or salary in the service of another.
(k) Energy density. The energy per unit area
				  expressed in the units of joules per square centimeter. (J/cm2).
(l) Gas laser. A type of laser in which the
				  lasing action occurs in a gas medium, such as a helium-neon mixture.
(m) High-intensity laser. A laser with an
				  output energy or power density that exceeds the values listed in Table 3 of
				  section
				  50.23  of this
				  Part (rule).
(n) Individual. Any
				  human being.
(o) Irradiance. An
				  expression for incident power density.
(p) Joule (J). A unit of energy equal to 107
				  erg or one watt-second.
(q) Joule
				  per square centimer (J/cm2). The energy per unit area and a unit of energy
				  density and radiant exposure.
(r)
				  Laser. An acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,
				  also referred to as an optical maser.
(s) Laser installation. Any location where,
				  for a period of more than 30 days, one or more lasers are used or operated. The
				  confines of a laser installation shall be designated by the owner of such
				  installation. An entire building or other structure, a part thereof or a plant
				  may be designated as a laser installation. For the purposes of this Part
				  (rule), a construction site shall not be considered a laser
				  installation.
(t) Laser radiation
				  area. Any area containing one or more high- or low-intensity lasers and the
				  access to which is controlled for the purpose of protecting individuals from
				  exposure to laser radiation.
(u)
				  Laser safety officer. An individual, designated at a particular laser
				  installation or for a particular mobile laser, who is qualified by training and
				  experience in the occupational and public health aspects of lasers to evaluate
				  the radiation hazards of such laser installation or mobile laser and who is
				  qualified to establish and administer a laser radiation protection program for
				  such laser installation or mobile laser.
(v) Low-intensity laser. A laser with an
				  output energy or power density at any point along the path of the laser beam to
				  which the eye may be exposed which is less than or equal to the values listed
				  in Table 3 of section
				  50.23  of this
				  Part (rule).
(w) Maser. An acronym
				  for microwave amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation. A maser
				  emits microwave radiation instead of light.
(x) Maximum permissible energy density for
				  corneal and skin exposure. The energy density of laser radiation from a pulsed
				  laser which, in accordance with present medical knowledge, is not expected to
				  cause detectable corneal or other bodily injury to an individual at any time
				  during his lifetime. The maximum permissible levels are listed in Tables 1 and
				  2 of section
				  50.23  of this
				  Part (rule).
(y) Maximum
				  permissible power density for corneal and skin exposure. The power density of
				  laser radiation from a C.W. or pulsed laser which, in accordance with present
				  medical knowledge, is not expected to cause detectable corneal or other bodily
				  injury to an individual at any time during his lifetime. The maximum
				  permissible levels are listed in Tables 1 and 2 of section
				  50.23  of this
				  Part (rule).
(z) Mobile laser. A
				  laser which is used or operated outside a laser installation.
(aa) Nanometer (nm). A unit of length equal
				  to 10-9 meter, 10-7 centimeter, 10- 3 micron or 10 Angstroms. The nanometer is
				  gradually replacing the Angstrom as the unit of measurement of electromagnetic
				  wave lengths.
(bb) Optical density
				  (O.D.). A number equal to the common logarithm (base 10) of the attenuation
				  afforded by a filter.
(cc)
				  Optically pumped lasers. Types of lasers that derive energy from high-intensity
				  light sources, such as xenon flash lamps.
(dd) Output energy. The energy emitted by a
				  laser. This term is used to evaluate pulsed lasers.
(ee) Output power. Laser output defined by
				  energy per unit time. This term is used to evaluate continuous wave
				  lasers.
(ff) Owner. Any person
				  conducting the business or activities carried on within a laser installation or
				  with a mobile laser and having by law the administrative control of a laser,
				  whether as owner, lessee, contractor or otherwise.
(gg) Person. Any of the following: an
				  individual; a corporation; a partnership; or a firm.
(hh) Power density. The power per unit area
				  usually expressed in watts per square centimeter (w/cm2).
(ii) Pulsed laser. A laser that delivers its
				  energy in pulses of short duration.
(jj) Pulse length. The duration of a pulsed
				  laser flash measured in units of milliseconds (msec) which equals 10-3 second,
				  microseconds (µsec) which equals 10-6 second, nanoseconds (nsec) which equals
				  10-9second or picoseconds (psec) which equals 10-12 second.
(kk) Pulsed re-occurrence frequency (P.R.F.).
				  The frequency of occurrence of laser pulses in units of pulses per second.
				  Pulsed re-occurrence frequency is also referred to as pulsed repetition
				  frequency or rate.
(ll)
				  Q-switching, Q-spoiling. A technique used to obtain extremely high peak powers
				  for very short durations from pulsed lasers.
(mm) Radiant exposure. An expression for
				  incident energy density.
(nn)
				  Repetitive pulse laser. A pulsed laser with re-occurring pulsed
				  output.
(oo) Research and
				  development.
(1) Theoretical analysis,
				  exploration or experimentation; or
(2) The extension of investigative findings
				  and theories of a scientific or technical nature into practical application for
				  experimental, demonstrative and specialized purposes including the experimental
				  or limited production and testing of models, devices, equipment, materials and
				  processes involving the use of lasers.