Laser safety in health care facilities: a national standard of Canada

CSA Standard Z386, Laser Safety in Health Care Facilities, was designed by the consensus process and is intended to minimize the health and safety hazards associated with the operation of medical laser systems. During its development, every effort was made to project where laser technology would be in the future. The specific requirements of the standard include a classification system; procedures to reduce the physical, chemical, and biological hazards; duties of a laser safety committee and officer; engineering, administrative and procedural controls; risk management and quality assurance; training and education; and acquisition and acceptance of lasers. Thus, this standard has a wider scope than other standards on laser safety. The standard has been well received within Canada's healthcare community.