Industrial Laser Incident-Accident Report Forms

This paper and presentation discuss the importance of Incident/Accident report forms in the context of a written laser safety program. It emphasizes the need, as identified by ANSI Z136.1 “Safe Use of Lasers”, for addressing actual or suspected laser radiation over-exposures and conducting incident investigations. It is noted that while other agencies or healthcare providers may have the requisite report forms, these may not always be sufficient for effective root cause determination. Where a diligent Laser Safety Officer (LSO) or Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) committee would conduct simulated laser incidents, an element often overlooked is including the creation of an injury report form in response to the hypothetical event. In cases where such forms are not readily available, this paper provides two suggested report forms (ocular and body), along with a review of an actual suspected injury to demonstrate their utility. Complementary to this is a suggested incident investigation report form for those facilities that do not have an established document for such. This comprehensive approach ensures a robust written laser safety program, facilitating effective incident response and prevention in the workplace. By following the guidance provided, users can ensure they are achieving Light Applied, Safely, Efficiently, and Reliably (a play on the L.A.S.E.R. acronym attributed by this author to Dr. David Sliney, Ph.D.).