Optical Radiation Hazard

Sources emitting optical radiation are of paramount concern to hygienists, safety engineers, and public health officials, both from their beneficial effects and their potential as a hazard to health and safety. Scroll down for our selection of optical radiation hazard light meter systems

The Sun is just one of many optical radiation hazards we may encounter

You hear about it on the television and radio, in health class and at your doctor's office, in fact, all over the place all the time: overexposure to direct sunlight is bad for your skin. It prematurely ages you and can lead to skin cancer. Not to mention those painful sunburns. It's been repeated over and over again so much that you hardly ever see anyone not applying some kind of sun block lotion, lip balm, or other product just to go outside for a quick walk. Truth of the matter is that there are many other types of hazardous optical light sources out there besides the sun. Many of which are commonly encountered items.

Many common light sources can produce various damaging health conditions

Welding equipment, lasers, office copiers, air sterilizers, and infrared heat lamps are some of the more commonly encountered optical radiation hazards. While most people are familiar with the damaging effects of continued exposure to the sun or even of the dangers of short-term exposure to welding equipment, many people are not familiar with the more subtle, but equally damaging optical radiation hazards presented by some of these other sources. Artificial UV light sources, useful for photo-etching, curing adhesives, paint and coatings, air, water sterilization, and controlled plant growth isn't visible to the human eye and can go undetected without realizing the damage that is being done until it is too late. These artificial sources can have UV levels many more times that of the sun producing a risk for greater injury in less time. Although knowledge about optical radiation hazards from UV light sources may be more obvious, thanks in large part to the sun and all of its publicity, the hazards presented by infrared and blue sources are just as real but far less known. Lasers, found in almost every home or office in the shape of CD drives, DVD players, cutting equipment, measurement devices, indicators, and as research tools can focus tremendous amounts of optical energy into a tiny spot capable of tremendous amount of damage to the human eye or skin. Even the smaller, less focused beams caused by scattering pose potential hazards. Some of the harmful effects which can be produced by these types of sources as well as others can include erythema (skin redness), photokeratosis (inflammation of the cornea more commonly referred to as "snow blindness"), skin cancer, Vitiligo (de-pigmentation of the skin), conjunctivitis, and temporary or permanent loss of vision. Continuous or repetitive exposure to low level sources may produce cumulative damage such as cataracts, blindness and cancer.

Safety professionals must weigh the risks against the benefits

While all these sources have great benefits, the risks are there and must carefully be accounted for and personnel protection assured. Industrial hygienists, safety engineers, and public health officials must weigh the factors of human health, safety, and well being against any benefits derived from such sources. As these sources have grown more commonplace, so too has the assessment of these hazards through direct measurement of their light output against national and/or international standards for acceptable levels of human exposure. 

International Light has a carefully designed selection of instruments for almost any Optical Radiation Hazard application.