Laser Safety Manual

Introduction

Anyone working in a laboratory must be aware about its potential hazards, including to people, equipment, and the environment. In particular, safety is of paramount importance in a high-power laser laboratory. A safety manual is the foundational document that ensures the well-being of everyone working within the laboratory environment. This document describes the rules, guidelines and protocols that must be followed by the users of the Laboratory for Intense Lasers in order to ensure safe working conditions. Before gaining access to working in the lab, users must be thoroughly familiar with these safety measures and acknowledge their understanding. There are a number of reasons why safety must be strictly implemented:

• by following safety rules, users acquire essential skills that are vital in a laboratory context, including the ability to identify and mitigate risks, correctly use personal protective equipment, handle hazardous materials and equipment safely, and respond effectively to emergency situations
• users are not only protecting themselves from potential hazards but also ensuring the integrity of their scientific work
• familiarity with safety protocols fosters a culture of responsibility and diligence, encouraging conscientious laboratory practices
• the knowledge and skills gained from being aware of and implementing safety measures contribute to the creation of a secure, productive, and harmonious work environment.

This manual is provided to all current and new users of L2I, including permanent or visiting members, researchers, students, trainees and technical staff. It describes the specific safety and health risks related to working at this laboratory and complements the information available on the general IST Laboratory Safety Manual [1] and within the laboratory in the form of Standing Orders, first-aid instructions, fire and earthquake safety procedures or other local safety documentation.

New laboratory users or anyone planning to operate with lasers, equipment or machinery at L2I must obtain previous permission from the Laboratory Head. This implies that the user fully understands the inherent risks by completing the following three steps:

• reading thoroughly this manual
• completing the laser safety training
• signing the corresponding form

L2I users are responsible not only for their own safety but also for that of those around them. They must adhere to the active safety measures specific for each situation and ensure that other users also do the same. Any temporary or permanent change to a setup that introduces changes to the current safety protocol must be discussed in advance with the Laboratory Head of Chief Engineer/LSO. This manual complements the general Manual for Laboratory Safety issued by the Safety and Health Office (NSHS), at IST. All the new users working at L2I must be thoroughly aware of the risks and safety measures in practice.

This document is available in MediaWiki format and will be updated periodically.

 

Emergency instructions

Contacts

• European Emergency Number: 112
• IST Security Central: Ext. 2000 or tel. 218 418 000
• Emergency Assembly Point: in front of the Central Pavilion next to the flagpole

Emergency procedures

The information below is a summary of the IST emergency instructions. All incidents/accidents should be reported to the CE as a mechanism to help preventing their reoccurrence.

In case of	How to proceed
Health or safety emergency	Sound the alarm by pressing the emergency button and call campus security reporting the incident Go to the nearest exit, following the emergency signs Do not use the lifts Go to the designated assembly point
Medical emergency	In case of a severe personal accident (without loss of consciousness), immediately call 112 (if you are using a landline, dial 0112), informing: your phone number and your precise location; the victim’s condition; procedures already performed. Keep calm while answering the questions. Contact campus security and report the accident. If you wish you may ask for a first aider. In case of a severe accident (with loss of consciousness), immediately contact, campus security, reporting the accident and its location. A trained AED operator will be sent to your location. Then call 112, reporting the accident as explained above. Provide first aid to the victim, as long as you feel capable and without taking unnecessary risks
Alarm sound	Intermittent beep: Remain vigilant and take action only if you're properly trained. Await further instructions from the security officer, receptionist, or floor manager. Continuous beep (evacuation alarm): Exit the building immediately using the designated evacuation routes shown on the Emergency Floor Plan. Listen to and follow the guidance of the evacuation team. Walk calmly; do not run and do not use elevators. If it's safe, close doors as you leave to contain fire and smoke, but do not lock them. This ensures the floor manager can verify everyone has evacuated and enhances safety. Do not return for documents or personal items. If you detect smoke in stairwells, notify the security officer or receptionist located near the building exit. If corridors are filled with smoke, stay low to the ground to avoid inhaling toxic fumes and gases. Proceed to the Emergency Assembly Point
Earthquake	Identify the safest places: doorway frames and room corners, under sturdy tables or other solid surfaces Be aware of the most dangerous places: elevators, near windows or tall furniture like bookshelves, the centre of large open rooms, doorways that are not structurally supported During an earthquake If you are inside a building: If it's safe, remain in your current location and seek shelter. Keep away from windows, shelves and objects that may fall or shatter Stay calm and avoid rushing toward the exits; stairs may be congested Never use elevators If you are outside a building: Stay away from tall buildings and objects that may fall Move to an open location After the earthquake Keep calm but remain prepared for aftershocks, which can occur seconds or minutes later Exit the building if it is not safe to remain inside Never use elevators Watch out for hazards such as broken glass and exposed electrical cables. Do not handle metal objects in contact with electrical wiring. Do not use open flames; there could be gas leaks or flammable materials. Assist any injured people if you are trained and it's safe to do so. Do not attempt to remove injured people with fractures unless there are other dangers present. Ask for help.
Fire	If you discover a fire: Remain calm, activate the nearest alarm button and contact the Security Central immediately. Use the appropriate fire extinguishers to attempt to extinguish the fire. Check the labels for the types of fires they are intended to combat and avoid taking unnecessary risks. If you cannot extinguish the fire, or if there is heavy smoke, evacuate the area. Keep low to the ground to minimize smoke inhalation, crawling if necessary. If possible, safely turn off the main electrical panel and gas supply and close all windows and doors to help contain the fire. Do not use elevators during a fire evacuation. Leave the building and head to the Emergency Assembly Point

Turn your back against the wind Aim the jet toward the bottom of the flames Use several fire extinguishers at once, not one at a time

Tackle fires that are spreading or dripping by directing the extinguisher from top to bottom. Ensure the fire is completely extinguihsed to prevent reignition Notify the Security Central so that used extinguishers can be replaced

Basic first aid guide

In the event if a personal accident, immediately stop any activities to take care of yourself or to assist others. Make sure that there are no active risks (e.g. the laser is left running) that could cause further accidents. The table below details how to react to possible personal accidents at L2I, whether to oneself or to others:

In case of	How to proceed
Light wound	Wash your hands thoroughly or use disposable gloves to avoid infection. Rinse the wound under clean, running water to remove dirt or debris. If necessary, use a mild soap around the area to clean it further. Clean the area dry with a clean cloth. If needed, apply gentle pressure with a clean bandage, cloth, or sterile gauze to stop any minor bleeding. Once the bleeding stops, apply a disinfectant. Cover the wound with a sterile adhesive bandage or gauze pad.
Deep wound	Use a clean cloth, sterile gauze, or bandage to apply direct pressure on the wound to control bleeding. If the bleeding soaks through the material, do not remove it; instead, place additional gauze or cloth on top and continue applying pressure. Have the injured person lie down and elevate the wounded area (if possible) above heart level to reduce blood flow to the wound. Call 112 for medical assistance (or have someone else make the call) and follow the procedures as directed Do not attempt to clean a deep wound, especially if it’s still bleeding heavily. The priority is to stop the bleeding until professional help arrives. If the wound involves a limb (such as an arm or leg), keep it immobilized and avoid unnecessary movement to prevent further injury. If there is a foreign object embedded in the wound, do not attempt to remove it. Removing it may cause further damage and increase bleeding. Wait for medical assistance and continue applying pressure to the wound and monitoring the injured person’s condition.
Thermal or fire burning	Assess the severity of the burn: First-degree burns: Affect only the outer layer of skin (e.g., redness, mild pain). Second- and third degree burns: Affect deeper layers of skin and underlying tissues (e.g., blistering, severe pain). For minor burns: Immediately cool the burn by running cool (not cold) water over the burn for 10–20 minutes. After cooling, cover the burn with a sterile, non-stick bandage or clean cloth. Avoid using adhesive bandages directly on the burn, as they can irritate the skin. For severe burns: Immediately call for emergency medical assistance (112) Run cool water over a small area of the burn, but do not cool large areas at once. Cover the burn with a clean, dry cloth or non-stick dressing (such as a sterile gauze pad). Avoid using any ointments, creams, or greasy substances (like butter) on the burn..
Electric shock	Do not touch the person if they are still in contact with the electrical source, as you could also receive a shock. Ensure your own safety before assisting. Turn off the electrical source immediately if it is safe to do so: Switch off the power supply or unplug the equipment causing the shock. If you cannot safely turn off the power, try to move the source away from the person using a non-conductive object such as a wooden broom handle, rubber mat, or plastic item. Call emergency services (112) immediately if the person has been exposed to a high-voltage shock or is unconscious, or if there is any concern about their condition.

L2I evacuation procedure

In the general event of a severe emergency requiring users to evacuate the laboratory, follow these actions:

1. Dial 2000 and provide information about the problem.
2. Abort all the experiments, shut down the electrical panel, and turn of any active machinery.
3. Have everyone leave the room through the emergency exit.
4. In the case of a small fire, and only if this procedure doesn’t increase the risks, use the appropriate portable extinguisher.
5. Close (but don’t lock) the doors and leave the building, following the evacuation route.

Laboratory management structure

Management levels

The Laboratory for Intense Lasers (L2I) is dedicated to the study of laser-matter interaction at very high optical powers and is operated by the Group for Lasers and Plasmas of IPFN. The main research areas are laser science and technology, nonlinear optics, plasma physics, high harmonic generation, diode-pumped lasers and optical parametric amplification. L2I is a fundamental stepping-stone in the preparation of high-intensity experiments to be carried out at large-scale facilities, while also playing an important role in the advanced training of young researchers and technological development. Since 2013, L2I is a member of the National Roadmap of Strategic Research Infrastructures.

The Group for Lasers and Plasmas (GoLP), is part of the Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear at IST. Their activity is focused on the study, both theoretical and experimental, of laser-plasma interactions and other phenomena associated with the interaction of high intensities with plasmas. The group is composed by two teams: the Extreme Plasma Physics team dedicated to theory and simulations of the highly nonlinear and complex phenomena associated with plasmas in extreme conditions and X-GoLP which is focused on the experimental and technological exploration of the generation of intense radiation sources and their interaction with matter.

Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear (IPFN, Institute for Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion) is a research unit of Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) with the status of Associated Laboratory granted by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. IPFN ensures the Portuguese participation in EUROFusion, the European Consortium for the Development of Fusion Energy. Research at IPFN is organized into two thematic areas: controlled nuclear fusion and intense lasers and plasma technologies.

Management roles

The management roles at L2I meets the requirements necessary for a laboratory of its magnitude and consists of the following levels:

Role	Management responsibilities related to safety
Laboratory Head (LH)	Proposing and managing all the laboratory activities at the levels of research plan, equipment, acquisitions, activities and human resources. Representing the laboratory within IST Developing and approving safety policies and operating procedures Ensure lab safety protocols are followed and conduct regular safety audits
Chief Engineer Laser Security Officer (CE/LSO)	Oversee safety compliance and training for all personnel Ensuring that all requirements are met prior to conducting experiments. Evaluating laser hazards according to the laser classification and determining adequate control measures Elaborating documentation relative to laser safety and protective equipment (e.g. eyewear, clothing, gloves, screens, etc.) Ensuring that protective equipment is operational Developing and overseeing laser safety training Reviewing applications for new laboratory users Assist in developing safety policies and operating procedures Reviewing results of inspections and reports related to safety, incidents or accidents and ensuring their follow-up
Laser Users (LU)	Complete the laser safety training before working in the laboratory Complying with all the safety measures in place Conducting all laser activities in accordance with accepted laboratory safety practices Wearing appropriate laser eye protection Reporting any unsafe practices or usage of lasers to the LH or CE/LSO.

As of 09.2024 the management roles are as follows:

• Laboratory Head Gonçalo Figueira
• Chief Engineer Gonçalo Figueira (deputy)

User levels

At L2I system of controlled access through an ID card system (the same as for restricted access within IST) is in place. Entrance authorizations for L2I are issued by the CE upon request and depend on the context of the visit. The following categories of access are in place:

Independent access	Permanent faculty and staff, PhD students, post-doc researchers doing laser-related work Requires completion of laser training
Accompanied access	Undergraduate students doing laser-related work, except under limited circumstances Visiting researchers and collaborators performing short-term experiments Requires completion of laser training
Short term visitors	External individuals or groups e.g. schools Suppliers and contractors Visitors must be accompanied at all times by a member with Independent Access category