[Laser] Tutorial.

[Jason Creager]

I'm an entertainment laser professional who deals only with medium and
large frame lasers. I'm a Certified Field Service Technician for Coherent
Innova 90 and I-400 series. Philosophical arguments against the powers of
the FDA because there isn't specific wording in The Constitution to enable
the creation of such an entity may make you feel better, but they do as
much good as peeing into the wind. The FDA and CDRH exist and there isn't a
damned thing you'll EVER be able to do about it. Thank God they do, too.
Yup, like everything in this world, they are not perfect. The FDA is far
from perfect, but without someone to regulate food and drugs we'd still be
living like pioneers in the old west never knowing if the latest cough
elixir has strychnine in it or not. Arguing against everything that isn't
specifically outlined in the Constitution is pure and completely pointless
rhetoric. You might as well get rid of the DMV, FAA, and FCC at the same
time.

The Center for Device and Radiological Health regulates laser usage in the
USA. The beaucracy is rampant and a major pain, but once again, thank God
it exists. If you go to a laser show in the USA, you know the chances of
you taking a 25W hit in the eye is EXTREMELY small. You won't be able to
touch or directly view anything but "diffuse scatter radiation". Every beam
will be at least three meters above audience contact.

It is illegal to produce a show with a Class IV laser. Period. I believe it
is technically a CFR (31. ?, maybe) and not a "law", per se, but it's been
awhile since I've filled out an End of Year Report.

You have to apply for and be granted a variance so that you may "vary" from
the rules. The wording is very specific about what types of effect you can
use, what the venue will be like, what kind of equipment can be used (only
"certified" systems, but no one can define "certified")

I can't imagine the kind of chaos that could result from unregulated high
power laser use. Unfortunately, outdoor laser shows were targeted by the
FAA several years ago because of possibly erroneous pilot reports. (High
power spot lights are not regulated.)

Also, chances are you won't get "burned" by a high power laser. Laser
energy transferance is frequency dependent, but I was told that argon
technically boils the blood directly beneath the skin without burning it
first.  :-)  It hurts, a LOT.
-
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