ANSI Z136.3 (2018)
ASLMS members have been actively involved in developing the recommended guidelines for safe use of lasers in health care, known as American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care, ANSI Z136.3. The standard was last revised in 2018.
A copy of ANSI Z136.3 (2018) Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care can be purchased from the Laser Institute of America (LIA).
ASC Z136-2018 is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Committee for the Z136 series of laser safety standards. These standards are the United States' national consensus standards for laser safety. Developed and maintained by the committee, the standards describe procedural standards of practice for the patient and staff in order to control the safety hazards associated with laser utilization. The ANSI document also describes the safety requirements to include the required engineering and administrative control measures necessary to establish a facility-based Laser Safety Program. In addition, methodologies for properly conducting a Laser Hazard Evaluation per laser system is included with a description of the Maximum Permissible Exposures (MPE), Nominal Hazard Zones (NHZ), and associated laser protective eyewear‘s Optical Density (OD) required to reduce the exposure risks to lasers and laser systems.