1. Recommended methodology and procedures for inspections of compliance with minimum requirements with regard to machinery equipped with laser devices
The regulations included in the checklists for compliance with minimum safety requirements with regard to the operation of machinery equipped with laser devices:
· Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on machinery, and amending Directive 95/16/EC:
1) designed and manufactured in a way preventing any accidental emission of radiation;
2) protected in such a way that effective radiation, radiation produced by reflection or diffusion and secondary radiation do not damage health, and that the optical equipment for the observation or adjustment of laser equipment on machinery do not create a health risk.
· Directive 2006/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (artificial optical radiation) (nineteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (O.J. of the EU L 114 of 27 April 2006, p. 38):
§ 3. 1. The Employer determines the level of radiation based on measurements provided according to the regulations concerning the examinations and measurements of noxious agents at the workplace and establishes the level of exposure in a way specified in the annex to the Resolution.
2. The Employer provided with the technical specifications of the source of radiation with a possibility to determine the appropriate parameters of optical radiation without examinations and measurements at the workplace:
1) assesses the level of radiation on the basis of:
a) details provided by the manufacturer of the source of radiation including results of measurements of the emitted radiation levels, or
b) calculations of appropriate radiation parameters at work locations, if such calculations may be performed based on the rules and laws of optical radiation;
2) establishes the level of exposure on the basis of the assessment of the radiation level in the way described in the annex to the Resolution;
3) repeats the establishment of the level of exposure in each situation of change in the technical equipment, technological process or conditions of work performance with possible effect on the level of radiation or exposure, or in the case of other circumstances warranting its re-establishment;
4) documents the results of exposure level assessment obtained on the basis of the activities described in items 1–3;
5) on the basis of the results of the exposure level assessment described in item 4, records the entry regarding optical radiation in the register of noxious agents at work, which is maintained with regard to the regulations concerning the examinations and measurements of noxious agents at the workplace.
4. The Employer does not carry out the activities of par. 1 and 2 if they use:
3) lasers categorised as class 1, 1M, 2, 2M or 3R according to the EN 60825-1 standard, operating in conditions specified by the manufacturer, or
4) lasers categorised as class 3B or 4 according to Polish Standard 6), for which collective protection measures were applied, resulting in the possibility of categorisation under class 1.
§ 5. 1. Having in mind the available technical solutions as well as scientific and technological progress, the Employer eliminates the occupational risk due to exposure to optical radiation or limits it to the largest possible extent, particularly by means of eliminating the threats at their source.
In the case of laser radiation the Employer does not regard the optical radiation as noxious at the workplace if the exposure level during the operation of the radiation source according to the intended use does not exceed 0.4 of the allowable value, especially if:
· they operate lasers categorised as class 1, 1M, 2, 2M or 3R in conditions specified by the manufacturer, or
· they operate lasers categorised as class 3B or 4, for which collective protection measures were applied, resulting in the possibility of categorisation under class 1.
The frequency of laser optical radiation examinations is specified on the basis of the multiplicity of the maximum exposure limit, which is performed:
– at least once every two years – if the last examination and measurement yielded exposure results between 0.4 and 0.8 of the maximum allowable exposure value,
– at least once a year – if the last examination and measurement yielded exposure results over 0.8 of the maximum allowable exposure value.
– If during the last two examinations and measurements of optical radiation (laser or non-laser) within 2 years the level of exposure did not exceed 0.4 of the MDE value, the Employer may withdraw from further measurements. However, the condition is that the work or technological process is not changed in a way which could affect the level of exposure.
Furthermore, the safety requirements were applied of the EN 60825-1:2010 Safety of laser products – Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements standard.
The proposed method of inspection involves filling out a control checklist.