Do you occasionally borrow or plan to borrow Class 3B or Class 4 laser equipment to use in your studies? If so, there is a new document that must be completed by both parties (borrower and lender) prior to the exchange of equipment. The Procedure for Access to Laser Equipment document outlines the responsibilities of both the borrower and lender of the equipment, information about the equipment, as well as an acknowledgement of responsibility. Upon completion, the form must be sent to resaw@emory.edu, or faxed to Rodrick Esaw at 404-727-5904. Each party should also keep a copy of the record. The document is now available on the EHSO website (www.ehso.emory.edu).

Laser pointers, in the past, were not considered very hazardous due to their wide availability and practical uses. However, with the production of higher powered laser pointers, the hazards have increased dramatically. Some laser pointers can have an output power of greater than 1 watt, which can cause severe eye injury. If you have purchased laser pointers from online sites such as http://www.wickedlasers.com, http://www.dragonlasers.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.ebay.com, etc., be sure to check the laser classification. If the laser pointer is classified as Class 3B or Class 4, it must be registered with the EHSO and added to the laser inventory. The laser registration form is available on the EHSO website (www.ehso.emory.edu).