From the Director: Eye Injury at SLAC

(Photo by Brad Plummer.)

by Persis Drell

Last Thursday, a serious incident occurred in one of SLAC's research laboratories at the PULSE Institute for Ultrafast Energy Science. A trained and qualified laser operator removed his protective eyewear to perform a laser alignment procedure. A stray laser beam entered his eye and burned his retina, causing a localized blind spot in his peripheral vision. The individual was extremely fortunate that his injuries were minor and he is expected to recover. However, the injury could have been much more severe, including possible loss of eyesight. Removal of the eyewear was against the SLAC laser safety policy, the laser facility posting signs, and the facility's Standard Operating Procedure document.

Commendably, the individual promptly sought medical attention, reported the incident, and all laser operations in that laboratory were stopped. While it would be easy to look at this event as an isolated case where someone made an unfortunate choice and removed the last barrier of protection, we cannot and must not dismiss it as such. We must and will learn from this event. Lab management responded rapidly and issued a laser research stop work order throughout the laboratory for all Class 3B and 4 lasers in research labs, as SLAC community members saw in the all-hands notification last Friday morning. Lab staff are currently working through a process to restart the affected laser labs. Prior to authorizing restart of these laser facilities, the engineering, administrative and personal protective equipment, or PPE, controls are all being reviewed to ensure they are properly understood, in place and implemented. Read more...

Laser Incident at SLAC—Next Steps

from the SLAC Environment, Safety and Health Division

Lab staff are currently working with great care and dedication to get SLAC's laser research labs up and running safely again as soon as practical. The key pacing element in this process is ensuring that all personnel are safe and ready to work safely again.

SLAC has a detailed set of actions covering verification of operating procedures, training (classroom and on-the-job training), and deliberate requalification of laser operators. Even though laser safety training, certification processes and protocols were in place, the incident calls for us to re-assess our laser safety practices and accompanying work authorization process. SLAC Laser Safety Officer Mike Woods, working with our Environment, Safety and Health director and senior management, has coordinated the development of a restart procedure for laser operations in research labs. The process includes a review of all Class 3B and Class 4 laser facilities, additional training and re-approval for all System Laser Safety Officers (SLSOs) and Qualified Laser Operators (QLOs), and a review of research laser Standard Operating Procedures. Before laser research re-commencement is approved, both the ALDs and the laboratory director must be assured that all new restart processes have been completed with the diligence they require. Details of those processes are available online.

A review of the Linac Coherent Light Source and Next Linear Collider Test Facility injector facilities indicated that the drive laser systems operate as production facilities with a stable optics configuration, and the standard operating procedures and facility safety controls were sufficient to allow the drive laser and X-ray free-electron laser components of the LCLS to continue running. Interim measures are in effect at these facilities until they go through the same process as the research labs for retraining and recertification. As interim measures, if any laser optics work is to be done, for example, to tune the lasers, Mike Woods will review, approve and observe the laser optics work. Other lasers that will be used for pump-probe experiments in the Atomic, Molecular and Optical science instrument must be recertified as safe before those experiments can continue.

Help Celebrate Archives Month 2009!

by Jean Deken

The SLAC Archives and History Office is looking to share the inside story on working at this lab, and to celebrate the many and varied contributions of all sorts of specialists to its daily science and science support activities.

Do you have a significant item in your work area right now? Something you use, or have used—or see or have seen—on a regular basis that has special meaning to you in your work? Is it old? New? Shiny? Worn? Big? Small? Used every day or seldom? Important to your functioning because (you fill in the blank)?

Submissions are due by October 20. Read more...

(Image: SLAC Archives and History Office)

Ancient Fossil Turns 45

by Shawne Workman

Speaking of SLAC history:

Happy anniversary, Paleoparadoxia! The fossil was discovered during SLAC construction 45 years ago today.

Word of the Week: Bakeout

(Video by Calla Cofield and Brad Plummer.)

by Calla Cofield and Brad Plummer

What does aluminum foil have to do with physics? Science writer Calla Cofield explains in this video installment of the Word of the Week.

Events

Oct 5 (8:00 a.m.) SuperB Project Workshop and Proto-Collaboration Meeting X
Oct 6 (12:30 p.m.) Experimental Seminar: Muon (g-2) and Other Dipole Interactions
Oct 6 (4:15 p.m.) Stanford Physics Colloquium: From Jaynes-Cummings to Rouse-Zimm—Interdisciplinary Quantum Optics

Access (see all)

Announcements
(see all | submit)

Lab Announcements

Community Bulletin Board

Seasonal Flu Vaccine Available

Training

Lab Training

Calendar
Registration

Today (2:00 p.m.)
Laser Safety for Supervisors

Upcoming Workshops & Classes

News (submit)

First Light for BOSS—A New Kind of Search for Dark Energy LBNL news release on Eurekalert
FY 2010 DOE Office of Science Appropriations Bill FYI: The AIP Bulletin of Science Policy News
HESS Telescope: Heart of a Galaxy Emits X-rays Physorg
Laser Wakefield Acceleration: 'Supermicroscope' Shrunk Down to Lab-size Physicsworld
Laser Fusion and Exawatt Lasers Physorg

<% Response.AddHeader "Last-modified", getArticleDate() 'Response.AddHeader "Last-modified","Mon, 01 Sep 1997 01:03:33 GMT" 'Monday, December 06, 2010 %>

View online at http://today.slac.stanford.edu/.

From the Director: Eye Injury at SLAC (Photo by Brad Plummer.) by Persis Drell Last Thursday, a serious incident occurred in one of SLAC's research laboratories at the PULSE Institute for Ultrafast Energy Science. A trained and qualified laser operator removed his protective eyewear to perform a laser alignment procedure. A stray laser beam entered his eye and burned his retina, causing a localized blind spot in his peripheral vision. The individual was extremely fortunate that his injuries were minor and he is expected to recover. However, the injury could have been much more severe, including possible loss of eyesight. Removal of the eyewear was against the SLAC laser safety policy, the laser facility posting signs, and the facility's Standard Operating Procedure document. Commendably, the individual promptly sought medical attention, reported the incident, and all laser operations in that laboratory were stopped. While it would be easy to look at this event as an isolated case where someone made an unfortunate choice and removed the last barrier of protection, we cannot and must not dismiss it as such. We must and will learn from this event. Lab management responded rapidly and issued a laser research stop work order throughout the laboratory for all Class 3B and 4 lasers in research labs, as SLAC community members saw in the all-hands notification last Friday morning. Lab staff are currently working through a process to restart the affected laser labs. Prior to authorizing restart of these laser facilities, the engineering, administrative and personal protective equipment, or PPE, controls are all being reviewed to ensure they are properly understood, in place and implemented. Read more... Laser Incident at SLAC—Next Steps from the SLAC Environment, Safety and Health Division Lab staff are currently working with great care and dedication to get SLAC's laser research labs up and running safely again as soon as practical. The key pacing element in this process is ensuring that all personnel are safe and ready to work safely again. SLAC has a detailed set of actions covering verification of operating procedures, training (classroom and on-the-job training), and deliberate requalification of laser operators. Even though laser safety training, certification processes and protocols were in place, the incident calls for us to re-assess our laser safety practices and accompanying work authorization process. SLAC Laser Safety Officer Mike Woods, working with our Environment, Safety and Health director and senior management, has coordinated the development of a restart procedure for laser operations in research labs. The process includes a review of all Class 3B and Class 4 laser facilities, additional training and re-approval for all System Laser Safety Officers (SLSOs) and Qualified Laser Operators (QLOs), and a review of research laser Standard Operating Procedures. Before laser research re-commencement is approved, both the ALDs and the laboratory director must be assured that all new restart processes have been completed with the diligence they require. Details of those processes are available online. A review of the Linac Coherent Light Source and Next Linear Collider Test Facility injector facilities indicated that the drive laser systems operate as production facilities with a stable optics configuration, and the standard operating procedures and facility safety controls were sufficient to allow the drive laser and X-ray free-electron laser components of the LCLS to continue running. Interim measures are in effect at these facilities until they go through the same process as the research labs for retraining and recertification. As interim measures, if any laser optics work is to be done, for example, to tune the lasers, Mike Woods will review, approve and observe the laser optics work. Other lasers that will be used for pump-probe experiments in the Atomic, Molecular and Optical science instrument must be recertified as safe before those experiments can continue. Help Celebrate Archives Month 2009! by Jean Deken The SLAC Archives and History Office is looking to share the inside story on working at this lab, and to celebrate the many and varied contributions of all sorts of specialists to its daily science and science support activities. Do you have a significant item in your work area right now? Something you use, or have used—or see or have seen—on a regular basis that has special meaning to you in your work? Is it old? New? Shiny? Worn? Big? Small? Used every day or seldom? Important to your functioning because (you fill in the blank)? Submissions are due by October 20. Read more... (Image: SLAC Archives and History Office) Ancient Fossil Turns 45 by Shawne Workman Speaking of SLAC history: Happy anniversary, Paleoparadoxia! The fossil was discovered during SLAC construction 45 years ago today. Word of the Week: Bakeout (Video by Calla Cofield and Brad Plummer.) by Calla Cofield and Brad Plummer What does aluminum foil have to do with physics? Science writer Calla Cofield explains in this video installment of the Word of the Week.	Events Oct 5 (8:00 a.m.) SuperB Project Workshop and Proto-Collaboration Meeting X Oct 6 (12:30 p.m.) Experimental Seminar: Muon (g-2) and Other Dipole Interactions Oct 6 (4:15 p.m.) Stanford Physics Colloquium: From Jaynes-Cummings to Rouse-Zimm—Interdisciplinary Quantum Optics Access (see all) North Linac Access Road Closure Extended through October Street Sweeping Sep 14–Oct 16 Parking Lot Between Bldgs. 23 and 44 Closed Moving Earth near Alignment Tower Parking Lot E Closure Announcements (see all \| submit) Lab Announcements Laser Operator and SLSO Restart Requirements eShop E-Commerce for SLAC Office Supplies Update: Mandated Harassment Prevention Training LCLS Proposal Deadline Extended to Nov 1 Community Bulletin Board Seasonal Flu Vaccine Available Training Lab Training Calendar Registration Today (2:00 p.m.) Laser Safety for Supervisors Upcoming Workshops & Classes Certificate in Supervision: Understanding Legal Issues in Supervision Oct 22 Fall Training Opportunities at Stanford News (submit) First Light for BOSS—A New Kind of Search for Dark Energy LBNL news release on Eurekalert FY 2010 DOE Office of Science Appropriations Bill FYI: The AIP Bulletin of Science Policy News HESS Telescope: Heart of a Galaxy Emits X-rays Physorg Laser Wakefield Acceleration: 'Supermicroscope' Shrunk Down to Lab-size Physicsworld Laser Fusion and Exawatt Lasers Physorg
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<% Response.AddHeader "Last-modified", getArticleDate() 'Response.AddHeader "Last-modified","Mon, 01 Sep 1997 01:03:33 GMT" 'Monday, December 06, 2010 %> View online at http://today.slac.stanford.edu/.