Environmental Health & Safety

Laboratory Safety Unit

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Pre-placement eye examinations are NOT required for using lasers. Departments and PIs/Lab Supervisors can elect to have their employees/students have pre-placement eye examinations for those using Class 3B and 4 lasers.

A baseline eye examination for those PIs/Lab Supervisors electing to have their laser users can include ocular history, Amsler Grid Test, macular function, and visual acuity (correctable to 20/20). All such examinations will be conducted without charge to the employee and will be conducted during work hours.
A laser eye examination can be scheduled by calling the University's Flaum Eye Institute at 273-3937 and requesting a laser eye examination. These examinations are performed by and under the supervision of an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or a qualified physician.
Skin examinations are not required for pre-placement except for those individuals who will be working with ultraviolet lasers and have a history of photosensitivity. These examinations can be scheduled through UHS.
An examination is recommended, but not required, when an individual terminates his/her work with Class 3B or 4 lasers. A department can be more restrictive and elect to have their employees using lasers undergo an exit laser eye exam when the employee terminates his/her work with lasers.
All records of medical examinations will be retained for at least 30 years by the University's Health Information Management System.

If the incident causes an injury or could potentially have caused an injury, the person or persons need to inform their PI/Lab supervisor.
Any individual with a suspected eye injury should be referred to the UofR's Flaum Eye Institute (call 273-3937).
Injuries/exposures from chemicals and electrical operations or laser beam interactions to the skin should be seen by a UHS (call x5-1155).
Complete a University Employee Incident Report Form for any injuries. Access to the reporting system is available at http://www.safety.rochester.edu/SMH115.html. A near miss is reported by using the same system, choosing the Near Miss option.
The Laboratory Safety Unit will conduct or assist in an investigation to determine the root cause and assist the staff in establishing appropriate measures to prevent additional incidents.

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QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?
Contact EH&S at (585) 275-3241 or e-mail Questions.

This page last updated 7/11/2019. Disclaimer.