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Message from the Director
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 I recently received a question from a new CMLSO regarding
certification maintenance renewal:
According to the CMLSO manual (pg 3, item 12), can I maintain my certification for an additional 3 years by passing the exam again any time prior to the end of my 3-year cycle, forgoing
the obligation to obtain the 10 CM points?
Several years ago, certification maintenance (CM) categories were revised in an effort to expand the ways our CLSOs and CMLSOs could obtain the required 10 CM points over their 3-year maintenance
cycle.
Category 12 was created as a final measure for those CLSOs and CMLSOs who were not able to achieve the 10 CM points any other way. Retaking the exam is not intended as a replacement for
maintaining your certification. In addition to the specified limitations:
- the exam must be taken and passed prior to the end of the 3-year cycle, i.e., before the December 31st expiration date,
- payment for the exam is due prior to retaking the exam, and
- the individual has not participated on a BLS Review Board or proctored an exam during the 3-year period.
I will add the following for clarity
- the ability to retake the exam is only available in year 3 of the individual's CM cycle.
It is important to remain knowledgeable in current industry standards and informed of upcoming technological advances. When you are in year one of your CM cycle, you should be working toward the
goal of achieving your 10 CM points. For suggestions, review the CM Point Categories. As LIA Director of Standards Development (my other hat), I can tell you that there are membership opportunities
on our Z136 committees, the 2017 ILSC Call for Papers is forthcoming, and membership in a laser safety-related professional organization is always an option.
Barbara Sams
Executive Director
Board of Laser Safety
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In Safety News
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As previously announced, the annual meeting of ASC Z136 is scheduled for Thursday, March 10, 2016 and will be hosted by NIST Gaithersburg. Observers are welcome; however, note that all visitors
must be preregistered with NIST to gain access into the facilities.
The following subcommittees have ancillary meetings scheduled:
TSC-1, Bioeffects Medical Surveillance, Wed, Mar 9
SSC-9, Manufacturing Environments, Wed, Mar 9
SSC-1, Safe Use of Lasers, Fri, Mar 11
SSC-8, Research, Development & Testing, Fri, Mar 11
SSC-4, Measurements, Fri, Mar 11
An LIA-hosted dinner has been planned for Wednesday evening; committee members who have RSVP'd will receive additional information (location, time). If you are interested in attending, please
contact Barbara Sams at 407.380.1553.
To those who are attending, I look forward to seeing you in just a couple of short weeks! Safe travels to all.
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11th DOE LSO Workshop
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Registration for the 11th DOE LSO Workshop is open! The registration fee for the Workshop is $120, and payment is currently
accepted online.
The Department of Energy LSO Workshop is for individuals with laser safety responsibility and interest in a research or academic setting who want to update and expand their knowledge. It features
presentations on current laser applications, and associated laser safety issues and solutions. Anyone interested in laser safety will not want to miss this one- of-a-kind workshop! The workshop also
serves as the official annual meeting of the U.S. Department of Energy Laser Safety Task Group (DOE - EFCOG).
The call for abstracts is now open, so please sign up and contribute to the program. The ongoing success of the Workshop depends on you being willing to share your laser safety experience with the
community.
The Workshop is a 2.5-day meeting and includes both invited and contributed talks. A vendor exhibit and tours of Fermilab experimental facilities will be offered the afternoon of Wednesday,
September 28th. Certification Maintenance points for Workshop participation will be available. The Board of Laser Safety will offer its Certified Laser Safety Officer (CLSO) and Certified Medical
Laser Safety Officer (CMLSO) examinations prior to the workshop on Monday, September 26th.
Additional information is available on the Workshop website. We hope to see you at Fermilab in September.
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OSHA seeks nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health
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WASHINGTON – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced that the agency is accepting nominations for six positions on the 12-member National Advisory Committee on
Occupational Safety and Health.
NACOSH was established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to advise, consult with and make recommendations to the Secretaries of Labor and Health and Human Services on matters
relating to the administration of the Act, including regulatory, research, compliance assistance and enforcement issues.
OSHA is seeking nominations for two public representatives and one representative from each of the following categories: management, labor, occupational safety, and occupational health. Members
serve a two-year term and may be appointed to successive terms.
Nominations may be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Nominations may also be sent by mail or facsimile; see
the Federal Register notice for submission details. The deadline for nominations is March 22, 2016.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for
America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.
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Featured CMLSO: Deborah Fuentes
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Tell us about yourself
My name is Deborah J. Fuentes. I have a degree in nursing and radiologic technology, and am a licensed radiologic technologist and certified licensed medical laser safety officer.
I am also the administrator for Pioneer Valley SurgiCenter, a freestanding, ambulatory surgery center in Massachusetts.
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When did you start working with lasers?
In 2004, I was the OR Team Leader when we acquired our first KTP laser and I had an interest in learning more about lasers. This led to becoming the facility LSO.
Do you like being the LSO?
Yes, I do like being the LSO. I believe the biggest challenge of being today's LSO is saying current with every changing regulation in the healthcare setting.
Has becoming certified benefited you in your career?
I feel going through the certification process helped me to become more knowledgeable about laser safety and use. Maintaining my certification allows me to keep up with regulations in the medical
setting, and attending laser safety courses allows me to network with other LSOs.
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Featured CLSO: Paul R. Daniel Jr.
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Tell us about yourself
I am Paul R. Daniel Jr., CLSO. I started Daniel Laser Safety LLC in July 2009 after a 32-year career at AC Spark Plug Division GM and Delphi Automotive in Flint, Michigan.
I graduated from Michigan State University with a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1976.
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When did you start working with lasers?
I started working at AC in 1976. In 1995, my staff engineer and the divisional health and safety director came to me and asked if I would be interested in becoming the divisional LSO. They had
noticed my laser work building machines, application development, and maintenance. This LSO responsibility involved about a dozen plant sites in the US. I went to Indiana to meet the previous LSO and
then went to the next available LSO training. Upon completing the course, I started to set up the AC laser safety program
Do you like being the LSO?
I like being an LSO because I can create an environment where laser safety related engineering controls devices and designs, administrative policies and laser hazard knowledge can be communicated
to those designing and building, maintaining or operating laser machines to maximize the safety for our employees.
It was originally challenging to create laser safety materials and training that was appropriate for each level of employee. For instance, operator and electrician training is different by topics,
language and presentation time. There were also people that would not buy in to the laser safety program, which is essential for their own safety. I found that most electricians who maintain lasers
are good in convincing operators and other electricians to buy in.
Has becoming certified helped you in your career?
It challenged me to learn about all aspects of laser safety not just what directly applies to my safety situations. The company who gets a CLSO on staff shows a strong commitment to laser safety.
It has also allowed me to continue to work in laser safety after my corporate life.
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