Lasers
Laser light is an intense, focused beam of visible light radiation.
• Lasers are used in many workplaces, including construction, surveying and medicine.
• High-powered laser light can cause severe skin burns and permanent eye damage.
• Hand-held laser pointers are not toys. They should not be used by children.
About Lasers
You may have seen a laser light show at a ball game, concert or
planetarium. One example of everyday use is the barcode scanner
used in many stores. The word laser stands for Light Amplification by
Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser light is an intense, focused
beam of visible or invisible light radiation. Visible light radiation is
only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Lasers used in
light shows give off visible and invisible radiation, which ranges in
color based on the length of the rays. For example, violet colored
lasers have shorter waves and red colored lasers have longer
waves. Within the range of visible light radiation, each color we see
has a different wavelength.
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Spectrum of visible light.
Caution: High-powered laser light can cause severe skin burns and permanent eye damage. Laser
light does not cause cancer or genetic damage.
Laser light as seen from an
airplane cockpit.
Laser pointers used by speakers to point out areas on a chart or
screen should be used appropriately. They can cause serious damage
if aimed directly at the eye. The Food and Drug Administration warns
that, while they can be useful tools, they are not toys and should not
be used by children. It is illegal to point a laser at a plane in flight.
Hand-held laser pointers, aimed from the ground, have caused
momentary blindness in airline pilots.
United States Environmental Protection Agency | Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608T) | EPA 402-F-14-026 | August 2014 | p. 1
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Rules and Guidance
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS), U.S. FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION (FDA)
FDA protects people by writing rules for the manufacture of products that emit radiation. These products must
be safe to use. The rules apply to lasers used in stadium light shows, handheld laser pointers and barcode
scanners in stores.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA)
The FAA must be notified before any open-air laser light shows. This allows them to ensure that there will be
no harm to aircraft passengers or pilots. The FAA reviews the plan for the laser light show within about seven
days. FAA can approve or disapprove it. FAA also has made it illegal to point lasers at planes because of
serious safety concerns for pilots.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL), OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (OSHA)
OSHA writes standards that companies using lasers must follow to protect their workers. Research has shown
that eyes are the part of the body most likely to be harmed by lasers. Therefore, the standards pay particular
attention to eye protection.
THE STATES
States can have their own rules in addition to the rules FDA and FAA have put in place. If a state has
additional rules in regard to lasers and their use, they are typically managed as part of their radiation protection
office.
What you can do
Be smart and safe: Don't try to touch a laser light beam. Don't look into a laser light beam, including beams
from laser pointers.
Never point a laser at a plane in flight: Hand-held laser pointers, aimed from the ground, have caused
momentary blindness in airline pilots.
Educate yourself and know the rules: Understand the dangers of lasers. Don't use lasers where they are not
allowed.
Where to learn more
You can learn more about lasers by visiting the resources available on the following webpage:
http://www.epa.gov/radtown/lasers.htmltflearn-more.
United States Environmental Protection Agency | Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608T) | EPA 402-F-14-026 | August 2014 | p. 2
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