To: Provosts, Vice Presidents, Deans, Directors, and Heads of Schools, Divisions, Departments, and Offices

Re: Composition, Duties, and Responsibilities of the Purdue University Laser Safety Committee

The mission of the Purdue University Laser Safety Committee (LSC) is to recommend policy and establish procedures for the safe use of lasers and laser systems at the West Lafayette campus, regional campuses, University farms and related facilities and operations, and at temporary job sites.

The Purdue University Laser Safety Committee shall consist of faculty and staff who by their knowledge and experience are qualified to make judgments and recommend policy in the area of laser safety. Committee members shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Vice President for Research and the Vice President for Physical Facilities in consultation with the various deans, directors, and department heads. The chairperson, a member of the tenured faculty, also shall be appointed by the President. The Head of Radiological and Environmental Management, with the approval of the LSC, will appoint the Laser Safety Officer (LSO). The LSO should be an individual trained in the area of laser science or health physics. The LSO will report directly to the Head of Radiological and Environmental Management. The Head will be responsible for implementation and enforcement of policies and procedures promulgated by the LSC. The Head and Laser Safety Officer shall serve as ex officio voting members of the Committee.

The Committee shall meet at least once per semester if there are pending issues for committee action, or at the request of any member. Attendance by at least 50% of the members is required for a quorum. The chairperson or the Laser Safety Officer or their duly authorized representatives, are authorized to act as agents of the Committee between meetings to ensure the timely processing of applications and to conduct other business. Any action taken by the chairperson or Laser Safety Officer on behalf of the Committee shall be reported at the next meeting.

The duties and responsibilities of the Committee are:

1. Assume responsibility for defining an environment that promotes the safe use of lasers and laser systems.

2. Prescribe procedures, conditions, requirements, and restrictions as necessary to protect University employees, students, visitors, the public, and the environment from hazards associated with lasers and laser systems. Such policies and procedures, conditions, restrictions, and requirements shall be consistent with federal or state regulations or recognized consensus standards.

3. Review, approve, or disapprove applications to acquire, fabricate, use, or transfer Class 3b and 4 lasers or laser systems at Purdue University facilities and operations. Committee approval must be obtained before any project involving Class 3b or 4 lasers or laser systems is initiated. (Laser classes are defined in the American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers — ANSI Z136.1 — 1993 and later versions of this standard.)

4. Prepare and disseminate information on laser safety and the policies, rules, procedures, and practices related thereto, for the use and guidance of staff and students. Assist staff with facility design, proposal costing, training, and other programmatic needs.

5. Recommend to department and school administration appropriate physical improvements necessary to raise existing facilities to a level consistent with current laser safety standards.

6. Keep a written record of the activities, actions, decisions, recommendations, transactions, communications, and reports involving the work of the Committee.

7. Submit an annual report detailing the activities of the Committee to the Vice President for Research and the Vice President for Physical Facilities.

Actions of the Committee may be appealed to the President through the Vice President for Research and the Vice President for Physical Facilities with the knowledge and consent of the department head or director of the unit involved.

The Laser Safety Officer or his/her designee, consistent with the protection of University employees, students, visitors, the public, and the environment, is authorized to:

1. Carry out unannounced inspections and laser surveys of any University facility.

2. Order immediate shutdown or cessation of work in any facility where it is evident that safety hazards exist to the extent of endangering vision, life, or property or to the extent that continued operation would result in a violation of existing federal, state, or University regulations.