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NAVY ENGINEERING BULLETIN MARCH 2003<br />

59<br />

Approximate<br />

power limits for<br />

visible light<br />

0.5 W<br />

5mW<br />

1mW<br />

0.4 µW<br />

to 220<br />

µW<br />

scheduled maintenance periods.<br />

HMAS Newcastle is the only ship<br />

currently fitted with the new Class<br />

3A laser, but SOPs will not<br />

change until the new LSP is<br />

released early 2003.<br />

Ship/Establishment Laser<br />

Responsibilities<br />

Simplified Laser Classification System<br />

All ships that use laser systems<br />

require a qualified Laser Safety<br />

Officer (LASO) (Ref A). This is<br />

usually the DWEEO or WEEO. To<br />

become a qualified LASO, a<br />

member must undergo a<br />

weeklong laser safety course held<br />

at the <strong>Australian</strong> Defence Force<br />

Academy in Canberra. It teaches<br />

validation and calculation of laser<br />

hazards by providing<br />

mathematical tools for analysis of<br />

laser physical and safety<br />

parameters. Dr Geoff Cochrane<br />

and Dr John Baird teach the laser<br />

safety course, and are both<br />

members of the LSC.<br />

LASOs may find the DSTO<br />

produced laser hazard calculator<br />

useful. It can be downloaded<br />

from:<br />

http://webvic.dsto.defence.gov.au/DSTO/ser<br />

vices/corporate_facilities/laser_c<br />

alculator.exe<br />

To avoid confusion, only members<br />

who have successfully completed<br />

the ADFA laser safety course<br />

should use this calculator.<br />

Class 4<br />

Class 3B<br />

Class 3A<br />

Class 2<br />

Visible wavelengths only<br />

Class 1<br />

Unsafe for eyes<br />

Unsafe for skin<br />

Unsafe for eyes<br />

Safe for skin<br />

Safe in the visible with<br />

aversion response<br />

No viewing aids<br />

Safe with aversion<br />

response<br />

No viewing aids<br />

No precautions required<br />

What is being done to Counter<br />

Foreign Laser Threats?<br />

Although we can protect<br />

ourselves from our own lasers,<br />

there is still the foreign laser<br />

threat to be considered. DSTO<br />

has for many years researched<br />

technologies for protecting<br />

against anti-sensor lasers, which<br />

can also prove hazardous to one<br />

of our most valued sensors, the<br />

Mk 1 eyeball. DSTO provides<br />

advice to the ADO on the<br />

specification and provision of<br />

laser protective filters, goggles<br />

and visors, for standard and nonstandard<br />

lasers.<br />

DSTO is also taking the first steps<br />

in countering the laser threat<br />

associated with subsequent<br />

incoming ordnance. In<br />

development is an in country<br />

Laser Warner Receiver (LWR)<br />

system. Although still being<br />

trialed, some LWRs can detect<br />

the wavelength, peak power,<br />

angle of arrival, pulse width,<br />

Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF)<br />

and check for the coherence of<br />

an incoming laser threat and then<br />

attempt to classify it accordingly<br />

(ie rangefinder/designator etc).<br />

In the near future, the<br />

Command’s ability for Ship/Task<br />

Group self-defence, situational<br />

awareness and probability of<br />

mission success will all be<br />

affected by the use of LWRs. A<br />

trial is being planned in Australia<br />

in which The Technical<br />

Cooperation Program (TTCP)<br />

member countries will be trialing<br />

their own LWR and<br />

countermeasure systems.<br />

More Information:<br />

<strong>Navy</strong> is about to release an<br />

introductory video on laser safety<br />

awareness. This video will provide<br />

ships and establishments that<br />

use laser systems, with a good<br />

introduction to laser hazards.<br />

In early 2003, Ref C will be<br />

replaced with a new <strong>Australian</strong><br />

standard on Laser Safety.<br />

Changes to the laser<br />

classifications will include the<br />

replacement of Class 3A with<br />

Class 3R (not an exact swap,<br />

there will be some differences),<br />

and the addition of Class 1M and<br />

Class 2M. These two new classes<br />

deal with special cases of Class<br />

1 and Class 2 lasers that can be<br />

hazardous if viewed with<br />

magnifying optics.<br />

RAN Contacts:<br />

For advice/assistance with laser<br />

safety in the RAN, the NAOS<br />

section is located in Campbell<br />

Park building 4 level 4 in<br />

Canberra. The DDNAOS is Mr Aiyel<br />

Chelliah, E-mail:<br />

aiyel.chelliah@defence.gov.au, Ph<br />

(02) 6266 3204. The RAN SLA is<br />

LEUT Chris Davidson, E-mail:<br />

christopher.davidson@defence.gov<br />

.au, Ph: (02) 6266 4886.<br />

References:<br />

A. ADFP 410 – Defence Laser<br />

Safety<br />

B. DI(N) LOG 72-6 – <strong>Royal</strong><br />

<strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> Laser Safety<br />

C. AS/NZS 2211.1:1997 – Laser<br />

Safety<br />

D. Laser Safety Paper for Project<br />

1698: Electro Optical Tracking<br />

System for FFGs<br />

Incorporating the Ranger 600<br />

Laser Rangefinder<br />

THE AUTHOR, LEUT CHRIS DAVIDSON, AND<br />

DDNAOS, MR AIYEL CHELLIAH.

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