"Paper" Radiation/Laser Safety Programs

["Richard C. Mannix" <rcmannix@uci.edu>]

The following was extracted from the laser accident database of the
Rockwell Laser Institute (http://www.rli.com/accident/acc_menu.html). It
demonstrates that having "paper" (as opposed to actively-practiced) safety
programs/policies can be legally problematic.
-----------------------------------------------------


#260: Nd:YAG laser in a University laboratory.

This example provides a major argument supporting "real" laser safety
policies and practices and why these should be a significant part of all
laser programs. A research assistant received exposure in both eyes while
working unsupervised in the lab. She was in the lab reportedly having an
argument with her boyfriend who was not authorized to be there in the first
place. The assistant was not wearing laser protective eyewear although it
was available. She claimed that the professor never wore the eyewear and
that it was just a "paper policy". 

Following the event, the student sued the university for $39 million and
reportedly settled for $1 million out-of-court. She claimed the protective
eyewear and laser safety policy was only "on paper" and was not practiced.
She also ignored a policy that NO guests were allowed in the labs and that
supervision was required to operate the laser. None-the-less she collected
on the claim. 

Such a settlement clearly indicates that the courts tend to favor the
injured party. Obviously laser safety programs that are viewed only as
"paper policies" can ultimately be very expensive. 


Rick Mannix
Health Physicist
Laser Safety Officer
Univ. of Calif., Irvine
949-824-6098
rcmannix@uci.edu
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html