Laser Safety Guidance

Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) tables

Exposure time t(s)

10-13 to 10-9 10-9 to 10 10 to 103 103 to 3 x 104
(< 1ns) (1 ns to 10s) (10 to 1000s) (1000 to 30,000s)
Wavelength (nm)
30 Jm-2
180 to 302.5 (30/t Wm-2)

t ≤ T1
C1 Jm-2
302.5 to 315 3 x 1010 Wm-2 where C1 = 5.6 x 103t0.25

t > T1 C2 Jm-2
-2
C2 Jm where C2 = 100.2(λ-295)
where C2 = 100.2(λ-295)

T1 = 100.8(λ-295) x 10-15s

C1 Jm-2 104 Jm-2 10Wm-2

315 to 400 where C1 = 5.6 x 103t0.25 (104/t Wm-2) (10t Jm-2)

Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) at the cornea for direct ocular exposure to laser radiation - UV section.
 Exposure time t(s)
10-9 to
10-13 to 10-11 10-11 to 10-9 1.8 x 10-5 1.8 x 10-5 to 10 10 to 102 102 to 104 104 to 3 x 104

Wavelength (nm)
Retinal photochemical hazard

100C3 Jm-2 1C3 Wm-2 using 1C3 Wm-2 using

using γp=1.1t0.5 mrad γp=110mrad
400 to 600 γp=11mrad

1.5 x 10-4C6 2.7 x 104t0.75C6 18t0.75C6 Jm-2 ANDd

5 x 10-3C6 Jm-2
Jm-2 Jm-2 Retinal thermal hazard
α ≤ 1.5 mrad: 10Wm-2
α > 1.5 mrad
t ≤ T2
400 to 700d 18t0.75C6 Jm-2
t > T2
18C6T2-0.25 Wm-2

Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) at the cornea for direct ocular exposure to laser radiation - Visible section.
 Exposure time t(s)
10-7 1.8 x 10-5 1000
-13 -11 -11 -9 -9 -7
10 to 10 10 to 10 10 to 10 to to 5 x 10-5 to 10-3 10-3 to 10 10 to 1000 to
1.8 x 10-5 5 x 10-5 30,000

Wavelength (nm)
700 to 1050 1.5 x 10-4 2.7 x Retinal thermal hazard
x C4C6 Jm-2 104t0.75C4C6 -3
5 x 10 C4C6 Jm -2
18t 0.75
C4C6 Jm -2 α ≤ 1.5mrad: 10C4C7 Wm-2
Jm-2 α > 1.5mrad:
1050 to 1400 1.5 x 10-3 2.7 x t ≤ T2
x C6C7 Jm-2 105t0.75C6C7 5 x 10-2C6C7 Jm-2 90t0.75C6C7 Jm-2 18t0.75C4C6C7 Jm-2
Jm-2 t > T2
18C4 C6C7T2-0.25 Wm-2
1400 to 1500 1012 Wm-2 103 Jm-2 5600t0.25 Jm-
2

13 -2 4 -2
1500 to 1800 10 Wm 10 Jm
1800 to 2600 1012 Wm-2 103 Jm-2 5600t0.25 Jm- 1000 Wm-2
2

2600 to 1011 Wm-2 100 Jm-2 5600t0.25 Jm-2

1,000,000

Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) at the cornea for direct ocular exposure to laser radiation - IR section.
 Exposure time t(s)

< 10-9 10-9 to 10-7 10-7 to 10 10 to 1000 1000 to 30,000

Wavelength (nm)
180 to 302.5 3 x 1010 Wm-2 30 Jm-2
302.5 to 315 t < T1: C1 Jm-2 C2 Jm-2
t > T1: C2 Jm-2

315 to 400 C1 Jm-2 104 Jm-2 10 Wm-2

400 to 700 2 x 1011 Wm-2 200 Jm-2 1.1 x 104t0.25 Jm-2 2000 Wm-2
700 to 1400 2 x 1011C4 Wm-2 200C4 Jm-2 1.1 x 104C4t0.25 Jm-2 2000C4 Wm-2
Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) of skin to laser radiation 180 to 1400nm

Exposure time t(s)

10-13 to 10-9 10-9 to 10-7 10-7 to 10-3 10-3 to 10 10 to 30,000

Wavelength (nm)
1400 to 1500 1012 Wm-2 103 Jm-2 5600t0.25 Jm-2 1000 Wm-2
1500 to 1800 1013Wm-2 104 Jm-2
1800 to 2600 1012 Wm-2 103 Jm-2 5600t0.25 Jm-2
2600 to 1,000,000 1011 Wm-2 100 Jm-2 5600t0.25 Jm-2
Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) of skin to laser radiation 1400 to 1,000,000nm.