Chairman's Message

This year is bringing new and exciting challenges to BLS, which is why you are getting a Chairman's Message instead of an Executive Director's Message in this issue.

Former BLS Executive Director, Rich Greene, has decided to take his career in a different direction and we wish him all the best in his new endeavors. I am pleased to tell you that the board has unanimously approved the appointment of Barbara Sams as our new Executive Director. Barbara is known to many of you as LIA's Standards Director where she does an outstanding job helping ASC Z136 committee members to revise current ANSI Z136 laser safety standards and develop new ones.

I am also pleased to announce that the LIA has just published the CLSOs' Best Practices in Laser Safety. We would like to thank all the CLSOs who contributed to this excellent book. A must-have for the CLSO, whether new to the task or an experienced veteran, it is our sincere hope that the CLSOs' Best Practices in Laser Safety will help to better facilitate the safe use of lasers everywhere.

Let's keep the ball rolling this year by continuing to contribute to the newsletter, the laser safety bulletin board and encouraging other LSOs to become certified. Please enjoy this issue of the e-newsletter and contact us if you have any questions or comments. We definitely welcome and appreciate your advice or suggestions on the things you would like us to do to improve the program. Please send your ideas and suggestions to Barbara at bsams@lia.org and copy me at pbaker@lia.org.

Thank you.

Peter Baker

Welcome new CLSO's and CMLSO's

CLSO

CMLSO

Go to the BLS website to view complete listings of CLSO's and CMLSO's.

Profile of CLSO/CMLSO

• M. Terry LaFrance, CMLSO
• David Sliney, CLSO

Name the e-Newsletter

Thank you to everyone for sending in their suggestions and to those who voted. The suggestion receiving most votes was "BLS Review & News." Thank you to Bob Sarason who sent in the winning entry.

ANSI Update

The annual meeting of Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) Z136 took place on Friday, February 8, 2008 in Orlando, Florida. Highlights included:

1. The reappointment of Robert Thomas as Committee Secretary by Peter Baker on behalf of the Secretariat (LIA) and the recommendation to reappoint Ron Petersen and Sheldon Zimmerman as Committee Chair and Vice Chair, respectively. These recommendations were unanimously approved by the Committee.
2. The reappointment of all standards and technical subcommittee chairs, as well as the reappointment of the editorial working group chair.
3. The approval of Buffalo Filter and Laservision USA as new organizational members to the Committee.
4. The creation of a new membership category "Member Emeritus" which is based on long and distinguished service in support of Z136 standards. Nominations for Member Emeritus were considered and approved unanimously by the Committee for Sid Charschan, Dave Edmunds, Jim Smith and Myron (Mike) Wolbarsht.
5. A report on the findings of the ANSI audit and recommended changes necessary to the ASC Z136 Procedures.
6. Status reports from each standards and technical subcommittee, including the announcement of the completion of the new ANSI Z136.7 American National Standard for Testing and Labeling of Laser Protective Equipment.
7. A report by Robert Thomas on the activities of a new Ad-Hoc group created to address the scientific rationale for exposure limits in the region near 1 mm in wavelength where IEEE and Z136 standards interface.

New business included discussion of the upcoming LSO Workshop in Albuquerque (Sandia National Labs) in July.

Next year's annual meeting will be held on March 22, 2009, in Reno, Nevada in conjunction with ILSC 2009.

Earn valuable Certification Maintenance Points by participating in standards committees! If you are interested in joining ASC Z136 (the main committee) or any of its subcommittees, contact Barbara Sams at Laser Institute of America (bsams@lia.org) or apply online at www.z136.org.

NEW ANSI Standard

(Orlando, FL, February, 2008) - Laser Institute of America (LIA) is pleased to announce the release of the new American National Standard for Testing and Labeling of Laser Protective Equipment (ANSI Z136.7).

This standard provides reasonable and adequate guidance on the test methods, protocols, specifications, report format, and labeling for devices used for eye protection from lasers and laser systems that operate at wavelengths between 180 nm and 1 mm.

Such protective devices include laser eye protective devices or instrument filters, laser window filters, and laser area protective barriers, screens or beam blocking curtains. Depending on the protective device, laser type, temporal mode of operation and wavelength(s), different test methods may be required.

The test procedures provided in this document ensure that eyewear, windows, and barriers maintain their specified level of protection throughout the useful life of the product.

Six informative appendices are included to guide the reader through material characterizations for the different filter/material types. The standard addresses not only absorptive filter materials, but new reflective coatings (e.g., dielectric stacks, holograms) and hybrid filters.

The ANSI Z136.7 can be ordered online through LIA's website by visiting www.lia.org/ANSI or by telephone at 407.380.1553

ANSI Meeting

SSC-3 Members - unable to attend the subcommittee meeting on February 9th in Orlando? A follow-up meeting will be held in conjunction with the ASLMS annual meeting on Friday, April 4, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms^TM Resort and Convention Center, Kissimmee, FL. Moderated by Dr. David Sliney and Ms. Penny Smalley, this meeting will discuss the results, votes and work items assigned at the February meeting. The meeting is open to all ASLMS Conference attendees. To register for the ASLMS Annual Conference go to https://www.eshow2000.com/aslms/attendee_registration.cfm?CFID=1659381&CFTOKEN=25394803

4th Annual Laser Safety Officer Advanced Training Workshop
This workshop is designed for all personnel with laser safety responsibility or interest a one of the kind program on laser safety issues.

ILSC 2009
Save the date! March 23-26, 2009 - John Ascuaga's Nugget Hotel - Reno, Nevada.

Conference General Chair
Benjamin Rockwell, AFRL/HEDO, Brooks City-base, Texas USA

Conference Chair
Ben Edwards, Duke University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina USA

Practical Applications Seminar Chair
Jay Parkinson, Phoenix Laser Safety LLC, Chandler, Arizona USA

As more information becomes available the BLS will report it in the e-newsletter.