WORKPLACE EXPOSURE DURING LASER MACHINING

Within the EUREKA 643 project ''Eurolaser-Safety in the Industrial App lications of Lasers'', the workplace exposure during laser materials p rocessing under manufacturing conditions was determined. Concentration s of airborne pollutants, originating from laser machining, were measu red under conditions similar to those encountered in industrial manufa cturing processes. A quantitative analysis of the concentrations of ai rborne substances was carried out using measuring techniques as they a re used by the Professional Associations. Selected results of measurem ents during laser beam cutting of mild steel and stainless steel, weld ing of stainless steel and zinc coated steel using Nd:YAG and CO2 lase rs will be presented. Different production conditions, the efficiency of certain suction systems, and room ventilation systems have been ass essed. Also the exposure to chosen chemical compounds during CO2 laser beam cutting of glass-fiber reinforced polypropylene was determined. The results are compared with national exposure limit values and are u sed for recommendations for the use of laser processing systems in ind ustry and the description of useful protective measures. (C) 1998 Lase r Institute of America.