Note: This website is currently under construction. At this time, the pages with signs and labels are Danger, Warning and Caution signs and IEC alternative-symbol label. Other labels will be coming later.
Why laser safety labels?
Governments and laser safety standards require laser products to be correctly labeled.
This is for the safety benefit of the buyer and user. It also assists government regulators and laser safety officers in assessing whether a product meets applicable laws and regulations.
One of the most frequent violations of law for laser products is that the product is mislabeled. This alone can cause the product to be rejected for importation, or require other expensive, time-consuming corrective action that could easily have been avoided.
This site is intended to help manufacturers, LSOs, users and others to understand laser safety labeling requirements. It also provides free, downloadable laser safety templates in PNG picture and Microsoft Word format.
This is for the safety benefit of the buyer and user. It also assists government regulators and laser safety officers in assessing whether a product meets applicable laws and regulations.
One of the most frequent violations of law for laser products is that the product is mislabeled. This alone can cause the product to be rejected for importation, or require other expensive, time-consuming corrective action that could easily have been avoided.
This site is intended to help manufacturers, LSOs, users and others to understand laser safety labeling requirements. It also provides free, downloadable laser safety templates in PNG picture and Microsoft Word format.
Which laser controlled area signs do I need?
You have a duty to warn persons who are entering an area where lasers are in use. We have three types of notices that can be posted outside laser controlled areas:
They are available on this page. Here is an example:
- Danger - For Class 4 lasers 1 kW (1000 W) or more
- Warning - For Class 3B lasers, and Class 4 lasers less than 1 kW
- Caution - For Class 2 and 3R lasers (for visible lasers up to 5 milliwatts)
They are available on this page. Here is an example:
Which laser product labels do I need?
United States only
If your product is sold exclusively in the United States, use the CDRH menu to find labels that conform with the Food and Drug Administration regulations 21 CFR 1010 and 1040. (“CDRH” stands for the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.)
Europe and worldwide
Most of the world outside the U.S. follows the laser labeling requirements of the IEC 60825-1 standard. Use the IEC menu to find these labels.
U.S. and worldwide
Under CDRH Laser Notice 50, U.S. regulators will allow some labels to be in the IEC format. If your product is to be sold both in the U.S. and elsewhere, it needs the following labels:
Disclaimer
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.
While the labels herein may be sufficient for relatively simple and common laser types, for more complex situations, consult an expert in laser regulatory compliance.
While the labels herein may be sufficient for relatively simple and common laser types, for more complex situations, consult an expert in laser regulatory compliance.
