Laser Safety Training

The confocal, TIRF and super-resolution microscopes in the NIC use Class 3B/4 lasers for illumination. The Harvard University Department of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Radiation Safety Office requires that all persons operating commerical microscopes which use lasers for illumination must complete their laser safety training. This is safety training that is organized and taught by EH&S Radiation Safety Officers, not by the NIC staff. The NIC Director will let you know if the microscope you wish to use requires EH&S laser safety training. It is your responsibility, and the responsibility of your PI, to make sure your EH&S laser safety training is completed in a timely manner. The NIC staff will provide additional microscope-specific laser safety information during your microscope training session.

EH&S offers Commerical Microscope Laser Safety Training online. Completing this training online once fulfills all laser safety training requirements for working independently on microscopes in the NIC.

EH&S also offers Initial Laser Safety Training. This training is designed for persons working with exposed laser beams, and is longer (2 hrs) and more comprehensive than the Commerical Microscope Laser Safety Training. Taking this training once also fulfills all laser safety training requirements for working independently on microscopes in the NIC, though we recommend the Commerical Microscope Laser Safety Training as it is most appropriate for the instruments used in the NIC.

For additional information, please visit the EH&S website.