Administrative organization

• Pages: 38-42

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Administrative organization

This section details administrative aspects recommended for the safety of people

using, and potentially exposed to, lasers.

The responsibility for the protection of workers and all other persons against the

potentially adverse effects of exposure to lasers should be clearly assigned to a

department, agency, committee or individual, as indicated in the following sections of

this chapter.

8.1 Role of the competent authorities

The competent or regulatory authorities whose terms of reference and functions

are concerned with protection against the harmful effects of laser radiation should

cooperate with each other. This cooperation is necessary to ensure that each authority,

or department within an authority, is well aware of the responsibilities of other bodies

so as to avoid duplication of effort.

8.1.1 Setting of relevant rules, regulations, standards and codes

The competent authorities should formulate the necessary regulations for laser

radiation protection. This should be undertaken in consultation with the representative

organizations of the employers and workers concerned. In addition, the authorities

should provide, as necessary, detailed specific guidance for the safety design and

manufacture and use of laser radiation sources, including the occupational health

surveillance of exposed workers, where considered appropriate.

8.1.2 Licensing, notification and/or registration systems

The competent authorities should adhere to the principle that exposure of people

should be minimized and that the exposure limits should not be exceeded. The

classification of lasers and consequent requirements of notification, registration, or

licensing should be based on an assessment of the safety design of the system and its

intended use. Whenever more rigid control is necessary, the authorities should specify

the laser product requiring a licence, together with the procedures and conditions for

obtaining one.

The licence permit should comprise follow-up methods to ensure compliance

during plant construction, commissioning and operation, including future modification

of design or working procedures. Granting of a licence should not preclude a change

during the period of its validity. A request for such a change may be initiated by the

licensee, or the change may be desirable or necessary as a result of experience gained

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