Desenvolvimento e proposta de um programa institucional de segurança na operação de sistemas a laser

Abstract

The occupational risks of laser radiation have increased considerably worldwide due to the advancement of this technology. This has led several countries to develop and publish standards for the safe use related to laser radiation. Also worldwide, several educational, research, and industrial institutions have safety programs, aiming to minimize occupational exposure and possible deleterious effects to humans. In Brazil, there is a lack of safety legislation related to laser radiation; as far as we know, research and development institutions do not have safety programs for the operation of laser systems. Although they implement some safety requirements such as the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), the national research and development institutions, industries and universities have not published or made available to users and individuals, a clear document with safety principles and governance structure among others for the safe use of laser radiation. As an example, the SENAI Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Systems and Laser Processing (ISI), based in JoinvilleSC and the Federal Technological University of Parana (UTFPR), based in CuritibaPR, do not have a safety program for operations with laser systems. In view of the safety and biological effects associated with the laser, in this work we developed and proposed an institutional program for laser radiation safety, following the national recommendations about workers’ safety, such as Regulatory Standard No. 12 of the Ministry of Labor and considering the most modern recommendations published internationally, such as the ANSI-Z 136-1: 2014 standard of the American National Standards Institute. Initially, the laser hazard safety perception of ISI staff was sought to be understood and a safety program specific to this institution was developed. With the development and implementation of the program, the ISI will follow a standardization in laser processing, standardization of training, in addition to complying with national regulations and being internationally aligned with other institutions in laser radiation safety. Also contributing nationally to the dissemination of the culture of safety and protection against non-ionizing radiation, it was created in this work a model document for a safety program in the operation and use of laser radiation, allowing other institutions, both in education and research and in industry, to develop their own programs based on international standards and current legislation.