Update on ANSI Z136.1

Z136.1 Subcommittee Chairs, William P. Roach and Benjamin A. Rockwell, led the efforts culminating in a draft standard by the end of 1998 which revised and updated American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z136.1-1993. This is now the fifth revision since 1973. This draft standard considers several major changes to revise laser hazard evaluation methods and laser classification for large sources. For collimated laser diode systems additional factors needed to be considered in order to maintain a fair margin of safety between the maximum permissable exposure (MPE) and actual injury thresholds for circular sources—with and without optically aided viewing. New data on ultrashort laser pulses (subnanosecond) changed the MPEs that were based on “constant power” criteria at 1 ns, while demonstrating new effects adversely impacting laser safety eyewear. Signs and labels are now more in accord with the latest ANSI Z535 and International Electrotechnical Commission recommendations.