Crossfire Welders Handheld Laser Welding Safety Checklist

This checklist covers training, personal protective equipment (PPE), laser enclosures, signage, fume extraction, and laser protective viewing windows for handheld laser welding.

1. Laser Welding Safety Training

• Each organization must appoint a Laser Safety Officer (LSO) in accordance with ANSI Z136.1 and OSHA standards.
• All staff should understand the potential hazards of working around lasers.

2. PPE for Laser Welding

• Compliance with laser, welding, and impact safety standards is crucial. o Operators should wear a tested and certified laser welding helmet along with ANSI Z87+ impact-tested laser safety eye-wear underneath. This double protection compensates for the tendency to raise the welding hood during the process.
• Everyone inside the Laser Controlled Area must wear laser safety eye-wear with the appropriate Optical Density (OD) for the wavelengths in use.
• Prescription and magnification laser safety eye-wear are available.

3. Welding Area Enclosures

• Protect individuals outside the immediate Laser Controlled Area from laser hazards by creating a work cell.
• Crossfire provides various laser curtain and barrier options that meet OSHA, ANSI, and international CE requirements.
•       Laser Curtains: Temporary, Flexible
•       Laser Barriers: Permanent or modular solution.
• Adding an interlock system to your laser enclosure ensures the laser welding system shuts down when someone enters the work cell without following the proper protocol.

4. Laser Welding Safety Signs

• Proper signage increases safety awareness, which is essential for a secure workplace.
• Ensure that appropriate signage is in place to promote a safety-centric work environment.

5. Fume Extraction

• The laser welding process can produce harmful fumes containing particles, vapors, and gases.
• Fume extraction systems safely remove these hazards while maintaining compliance with health and safety requirements.

6. Laser Welding Viewing Windows

• Optional laser protective viewing windows can be added to laser curtains or barriers, allowing safe observation within the Laser Controlled Area.
• These windows can also be integrated into traditional framed constructions of walls or rooms.