Class 2 (II) laser safety information
WHAT IS A CLASS 2 LASER?
Class 2 lasers are considered safe for normal operation. Class 2 lasers' output power is below 1 milliwatt. All Class 2 lasers emit visible light only.
In Australia, the U.K., and many other countries, only Class 2 lasers can be sold as "pointers" or for pointing purposes. (In the U.S., pointers can also be Class 3R.)
Class 2 is the same as the Roman numeral "Class II" you may see on some lasers' labels. At this website, we primarily use the Arabic numerals, for convenience.
In Australia, the U.K., and many other countries, only Class 2 lasers can be sold as "pointers" or for pointing purposes. (In the U.S., pointers can also be Class 3R.)
Class 2 is the same as the Roman numeral "Class II" you may see on some lasers' labels. At this website, we primarily use the Arabic numerals, for convenience.
SAFE USE GUIDANCE - GENERAL
A Class 2 laser is relatively weak. It normally would not harm an eye unless a person deliberately stared into the beam. Laser protective eyewear is normally not necessary. A Class 2 laser is not a skin or materials burn hazard.
However, even a Class 2 laser can be a distraction, glare or flashblindness hazard for pilots and drivers. NEVER aim any laser towards an aircraft or vehicle that is in motion. This is unsafe and is illegal -- you could be arrested and jailed.
However, even a Class 2 laser can be a distraction, glare or flashblindness hazard for pilots and drivers. NEVER aim any laser towards an aircraft or vehicle that is in motion. This is unsafe and is illegal -- you could be arrested and jailed.
ONLY ALLOW USE BY RESPONSIBLE PERSONS
This is not a toy. Children can safely use Class 2 lasers only with continuous adult supervision.
This is not a toy. Children can safely use Class 2 lasers only with continuous adult supervision.
CLASS 2 LASER HAZARDS
SAFETY NOTICE: This website is intended for the educational, instructional and informational purposes of the user and is not to be considered a substitute for a knowledgeable and trained Laser Safety Officer (LSO) with the duties and responsibilities as defined in the ANSI Z136 standard published by the American National Standard Institute.
The hazard distances listed below are intended only as general guidance. This is because 1) your laser may vary from the parameters (power, divergence) listed below, and 2) information on labels or marketing materials may not always be correct. For example, studies have shown that some laser pointers may be falsely labeled to avoid regulations -- the actual power may be 10 times or more what the label indicates.
Always err on the side of safety. If your laser has not been measured by a knowledgeable and trained Laser Safety Officer, assume it is more hazardous than the label or marketing materials would indicate.
The hazard distances listed below are intended only as general guidance. This is because 1) your laser may vary from the parameters (power, divergence) listed below, and 2) information on labels or marketing materials may not always be correct. For example, studies have shown that some laser pointers may be falsely labeled to avoid regulations -- the actual power may be 10 times or more what the label indicates.
Always err on the side of safety. If your laser has not been measured by a knowledgeable and trained Laser Safety Officer, assume it is more hazardous than the label or marketing materials would indicate.
EYE INJURY HAZARD
EYE INJURY HAZARD -- DIRECT AND REFLECTED BEAM
Class 2 visible-light lasers are considered safe for unintentional eye exposure, because a person will normally turn away or blink to avoid the bright light. Do NOT deliberately stare into the beam -- this can cause injury to the retina in the back of the eye.
Be aware of beam reflections off glass and shiny surfaces. Depending on the surface, the reflected beam could be about as strong and as focused as a direct beam.
Class 2 visible-light lasers are considered safe for unintentional eye exposure, because a person will normally turn away or blink to avoid the bright light. Do NOT deliberately stare into the beam -- this can cause injury to the retina in the back of the eye.
Be aware of beam reflections off glass and shiny surfaces. Depending on the surface, the reflected beam could be about as strong and as focused as a direct beam.
The Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance (NOHD) for the most powerful Class 2 laser (0.99 mW) with a tight beam (0.5 milliradian divergence) is 46 ft (14 m).
Color indicates the relative hazard: Red = potential injury, green = unlikely injury. Beyond the Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance, the chance of injury is “vanishingly small” according to safety experts.
For a 0.99 mW Class 2 laser with a less-tight beam that spreads out faster (1 milliradian), the NOHD is 23 feet (7 m). This divergence is more typical of consumer lasers.
If you are closer than the NOHD distance to the laser, there is a possibility of retinal damage if the direct or reflected beam enters your eye for longer than about ¼ second. The closer you are to the laser and the longer the beam is in the eye, the greater the chance of injury.
AIRCRAFT AND VEHICLE SAFETY
LASERS CAN INTERFERE WITH PILOTS, DRIVERS
NEVER aim any laser towards an aircraft or vehicle that is in motion. The bright light can flashblind, cause glare, or distract the pilot or driver. This is why aiming any laser towards an aircraft is illegal.
NEVER aim any laser towards an aircraft or vehicle that is in motion. The bright light can flashblind, cause glare, or distract the pilot or driver. This is why aiming any laser towards an aircraft is illegal.
- A 0.99 mW Class 2 laser beam can temporarily flashblind a pilot or driver, causing afterimages, within 240 ft (73 m) of the laser.
- It can cause glare, blocking a pilot or driver's vision, within 1050 ft (320 m) of the laser.
- It can cause distraction, being brighter than surrounding lights, within 2 miles (3.2 km) of the laser.
- The more the beam spreads out, the shorter the hazard distances. For example, for a 0.99 mW 555 nm green laser pointer with a beam spread of 1 milliradian, divide the above numbers by 2 to find the visual interference distances.
- Green is the most visible color to the human eye. It will appear brighter and more distracting than other colors of equal power. For red, divide the above numbers by about 5 to get an approximation of the visual interference distances. For blue, divide the above numbers by about 20.
Never aim a laser at or near aircraft or vehicles, no matter what its color or power.
LASING AIRCRAFT AND VEHICLES IS ILLEGAL
In the U.S., aiming a laser at or near the flight path of an aircraft is a federal felony, punishable by up to 5 years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000. Other countries, and U.S. states have similar laws for interfering with safety; such laws may be used to arrest, fine or imprison a person for aiming at aircraft and vehicles.
The power of the laser does not matter. Even if a laser's power is relatively weak, aiming ANY laser beam at an aircraft or vehicle is illegal.
Persons aiming higher-powered beams are especially likely to be caught, because the beam is very visible from the air. It is easy for police helicopters to trace the beam back to the perpetrator's location.
See this page for a selected list of the many persons who have been jailed and/or fined for aiming lasers at aircraft.
In the U.S., aiming a laser at or near the flight path of an aircraft is a federal felony, punishable by up to 5 years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000. Other countries, and U.S. states have similar laws for interfering with safety; such laws may be used to arrest, fine or imprison a person for aiming at aircraft and vehicles.
The power of the laser does not matter. Even if a laser's power is relatively weak, aiming ANY laser beam at an aircraft or vehicle is illegal.
Persons aiming higher-powered beams are especially likely to be caught, because the beam is very visible from the air. It is easy for police helicopters to trace the beam back to the perpetrator's location.
See this page for a selected list of the many persons who have been jailed and/or fined for aiming lasers at aircraft.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
- General information about laser hazards and classes (Classes 1, 1M, 2, 2M, 3R, 3B and 4)
- A page with additional links and resources on consumer laser safety, what to do if you are injured, lasers and aviation safety, a laser pointer safety website, and laser industry groups.