Introduction

Laser is the acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
Laser light is a form of electromagnetic radiation, but most laser light does not fall
in the ionizing section of the spectrum. Lasers are used for a variety of applications
throughout the Reed College campus and may cause injury if improperly used.
Therefore a basic knowledge of laser safety is necessary before one uses a laser.
Everyone associated with laser operations needs to be aware of the hazards they
may encounter. Lasers can cause serious eye injury if a person looks directly into the
beam, and even diffuse reflections can blind, burn flesh, ignite flammable materials,
and/or activate toxic chemicals. Lasers may also bring hazards associated with high
voltage, high pressure, noise, radiation, and toxic gases.

Figure 1: Electromagnetic Spectrum