LIA conference addresses laser safety

Laser Institute of America (LIA), Orlando, Fla., will present the International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC®), an event that addresses all aspects of laser safety, March 23-26, 2009, at John Ascuaga's Nugget Hotel in Reno, Nev. The event will include instruction on practical activities of laser safety officers and scientific research supporting establishment of safe exposure limits. The conference includes the Laser Safety Practical Applications seminar, a two-day event for the practical laser safety officer.

Topics will include practical laser safety, medical laser safety, laser safety training, protective filters and guards, hazard and risk assessment, outdoor lasers— use and safety, safety standards legislation—local to global, nonbeam hazards and fume extraction, high-powered lasers and applications, control measures, measurements, eye protection, and bioeffects.

The conference general chair will be Benjamin Rockwell of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Brooks City, Tex., and the conference chair will be Ben Edwards of Duke University. Jay Parkinson, Phoenix Laser Safety LLC, Chandler, Ariz., will serve as Laser Safety Practical Applications seminar chair.

Seminar participants will be involved in interactive workshops, panel discussions, and topics addressing the more common safety issues and concerns of day-to-day operations in commercial, factory, research, and medical facility settings. Topics will include basic optics for the LSO, introduction to laser safety, a review of laser technology, creating a laser-controlled area, designing your enclosure to meet Class 1 requirements, CDRH and IEC regulations, and high-intensity light sources.

LIA is requesting papers for the conference. For abstract submission guidelines or to submit a 100- to 200-word abstract, visit www.laserinstitute.org/conferences/ilsc. Manuscript due dates must be strictly observed, states the organization.