University Laser Safety Committee Charter

The primary responsibility of the 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, agriculture facilities, and at temporary job sites. Laser safety includes, but is not limited to, the procurement and the handling, use, storage, and disposal of lasers.

The Laser Safety Committee shall consist of members appointed from the faculty and staff with the ability to make judgments of the safe use of lasers in the University environment. The committee shall represent as much as possible the major colleges of the University that utilize lasers to conduct research. The Senior Director of Environmental Health & Public Safety and the Associate Vice President for Research shall appoint committee members in consultation with the various deans, directors, and department heads. The chairperson should be a tenured faculty member and shall be appointed by members of the committee. The Director of Environmental Health and Safety, with the approval of the LSC, shall appoint the Laser Safety Officer (LSO). The Director of Environmental Health and Safety and LSO shall serve as ex- officio voting members of the Committee.

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Laser Safety Committee shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Serve as advisors to the University Community on matters related to lasers and laser systems.
2. Be cognizant of all applicable federal, state, or recognized consensus standards and University policies, procedures, guidelines, laws and regulations related to lasers and laser systems and transmit this information in appropriate form to the University Community.
3. Develop, review, and/or approve procedures and guidelines, and prescribe special conditions and requirements related to Class 3b and 4 lasers.
4. Develop, review, approve, and recommend programs for training in laser safety in the University Community.
5. Review conditions not in compliance with government and/or University policies, procedures, guidelines and regulations, and recommend appropriate corrective actions. In extreme circumstances, this may include suspension of the activity in question.
6. Report items addressing safety or response related to an injury to the department head of the PI.
7. Keep a written record of activities, actions, decisions and recommendations of the Committee.
8. Submit annual report detailing the activities of the Committee to the Vice President for Research and the Senior Director of Environmental Health and Safety.

The Committee shall meet semi-annually 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 LSO 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 LSO on behalf of the Committee shall be reported at the next meeting.

The responsibility for compliance and the success of these programs rests with the University Community. Vice Presidents, deans, directors, chairpersons, department heads and supervisors shall inform the faculty and staff of, and require compliance with, all government and University policies, procedures, guidelines, laws and regulations related to laser safety. Individual faculty members and supervisors shall ensure that laser safety requirements are understood and followed by staff. This includes technicians, undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and visiting researcher.