Course Outline

The course runs through a single day from 09:30 hrs to 16:00 hrs, with welcome tea/coffee and a buffet lunch. Along with lunch break, you will also have morning and afternoon refreshment breaks where tea and coffee and soft drinks are available. If you opt to sit the examination, this would be sat at the end of the day (approx. 45 minutes) along with an exam debrief upon completion by James Stewart.

The course and the accompanying colour printed manual is divided into six main segments that each cover a different aspect of the points that need to be considered before performing a laser display:
1. Laser Show Basics
The day begins with an introduction into laser beam properties and hazards, and how these relate to common scenarios present in the entertainment. Parameters and terms used for laser safety assessment are introduced.
2. Laser Display Optical Hazards
Laser display hazards are highlighted, along with explanations as to why laser light properties are hazardous, and the resulting biological injuries from exposure.
3. Laser Exposure Limits and Safety
Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) and Exposure Limit Value (ELV), Power Density and Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance are all discussed.
4. Laser Safety Legislation
Discusses relevance of the published Laser Safety Standards and Health & Safety regulations (including the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010). Standards documents published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) are covered as well as guidance published by PLASA and other organisations. Useful to both manufacturers and users alike, we cover what minimum safety features should be included on Class 3B and Class 4 laser products used for laser displays.
5. Laser Installation Guidance
This segment covers the rules and guidance for best practice for creating safe laser display installations including separation distances, standard safety techniques and practices. Examples of a wide range of real-world installation configurations are covered, demonstrating how safe installs can be achieved, highlighting common issues and acceptable solutions expected to maintain safety.
6. Laser Show Documentation and Laser Safety Management
Introduces the Display Safety Record (DSR), describing its purpose and key elements that should be included, before moving on to developing a concise document that can be used as a solid basis for creating your own DSRs going forward.Examples of risk assessment and method statements (RAMS) are developed. Coverage includes the use and development of standard checks and precautions to help improve safety performance and provide assurance to others that you work with, including regulatory authorities.

Optional Examination

At the end of the training day, there is a chance to test your knowledge and demonstrate your capabilities in a 45-minute Laser Show Operator’s Exam. The exam is based only on what is taught during the day and the questions require answers via multiple choice options. To pass, you must achieve a mark over 80%.

If you wish to sit the exam, please ensure that you select the examination option before you check out. Results are usually emailed within 7 days of sitting the exam.
If you are unsure whether to pre book the exam, you are more than welcome to decide on the day after the course has finished. You can simply ask to sit the exam and the result would be released to you upon receipt of the exam payment cost.

Course Contents

The laser safety operators course is designed from the ground up to cover issues relevant specifically to the laser display and entertainment industry. The course and the accompanying reference manual is packed full of information that is important for laser show designers and users.

The course does NOT include laser use for medical, surgical or military applications, and you will NOT find any adapted generic safety courses hazards such as Fume Hazards and CPR methods included as "padding".

For this course we concentrate solely on today’s modern laser shows techniques and technology - basically everything that you need to know.

Laser Safety

Lasers can be hazardous if they are not installed and operated safely. The types of lasers used for laser displays are normally Class 4 devices, therefore having the potential to cause serious eye injury to people if proper care is not taken. Standards and guidance do exist for using lasers, with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) expecting that Class 3B and Class 4 lasers are only used following a suitable and sufficient risk assessment has been completed, and appropriate safety precautions are in place.

Laser specific health & safety legislation exists through the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010. The British Standards Institution (BSI) has published a document, PD IEC/TR 60825-3:2022, describing how laser shows can be safely managed. Our Professional Laser Display Training Course is targeted specifically for the light show and entertainment industry, being designed to teach you what is necessary to perform safe, legal, and enjoyable shows.

Reliable Knowledge

The Laser Safety Course has been designed and presented by laser safety expert James Stewart, who through over 25 years of experience in the entertainment light show industry has come across many of the safety problems and situations that are often unique in the laser display application. James has used his experience and knowledge to help develop the IEC’s (International Electrotechnical Commission’s) latest standards document (IEC/TR 60825-3:2022) specific to laser display safety. where he acted as project lead, working with a number of laser safety experts and regulators across the world to develop the international standards document, which has been adopted and published the United Kingdom by the British Standards Institution.

LVR have carried out extensive research work into the measurement and analysis of audience scanned laser radiation and ways of making laser displays safer.

As well as specific laser safety expertise, James is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH). He is also a committee member of the British Standards Institute group for Optical Radiation Safety and Laser Equipment. James is a Laser Protection Adviser (LPA) and holds United States BLS certification as a Certified Laser Safety Officer.

In the entertainment sector LVR Optical are known for being leaders in safely managing high power lasers and light sources, having regularly worked with many of the UK’s largest venues, and broadcast institutions acting as consulting Laser Protection Advisers.