Entertainment Event Laser Safety
by Roberta L McHatton, LSO,
Considerations
Owner/Consultant, Laser Safety Services LLC
photos courtesy of ER Productions
Congratulations on deciding to add lasers to
your next event!!! Laser effects will bring excitement, pizzazz,
and class to your special event in a multitude of ways. Laser
light can be defined as ‘beam’ work with choreographed
sweeping, dancing laser beam sequences that reach out and
embrace your audience in a way that no other lighting effects
can do and/or laser light can bring neon-like bright light to
your client’s logos and/or graphics that will make an audience
gasp with delight. When used properly lasers add the kind of
magic to events/productions that viewers will long remem-
ber.
Fun Fact: Did you know the word laser is an acronym?
Light Amplified by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation =
LASER
the greatest safety concern when using lasers is the biological
hazard laser light presents to the eye.
Safety Concerns
What is the big deal about using lasers for entertainment pur-
poses anyway?
Fun Fact: Did you know that when using lasers for entertain-
ment/display in the USA that a laser show company is required
to apply for a ‘variance’ from the Food and Drug Administra-
tion? Here is the FDA website about Laser Light Shows:
https://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/Radia-
tionEmittingProductsandProcedures/HomeBusinessandEnt-
ertainment/ucm118907.htm
A Bit of History
It was Albert Einstein who first imagined the concept of the
electromagnetic spectrum which include light waves and
coined the word ‘laser’. But it was not until on May 16, 1960
when the first laser was invented by Theodore H. Maiman, a
physicist at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, Calif.,
who constructed the first laser using a cylinder of synthetic
ruby 1 cm in diameter and 2 cm long. That laser emitted a
lovely red-light beam. The laser was an invention that needed
an application.
What do you think the first application of lasers were? Was
it used for medical purposes, industrial, military or……for ar-
tistic purposes? As it happened that beautiful laser light had
immediate appeal to artists worldwide. While the scientific
community floundered for ‘practical’ uses of laser light the
artistic community embraced this new, exciting very unusual
medium with enthusiasm. The public was introduced to lasers
via art, sculpture and holography exhibitions long before we
humans used lasers on Mars to analyze that planet for poten-
tial life forms or for communication purposes or for medical
purposes.
Fun Fact: Why is it ironic that one of the most common med-
ical uses for lasers is known as LASIK eye surgery? Because
10
More on this later.
Because of laser light physical properties – it is monochromat-
ic, coherent and directional – laser light can deliver a great
deal of energy in a very small area. In order for us to ‘see’ laser
light for entertainment purposes we are often using Class 3B
and Class 4 lasers. Lasers are classified to indicate the degree
of risk; the ability of the beam to cause damage to the eye or
skin. Class 4 lasers are high powered lasers (>500mW) which
are hazardous to the eye when viewed directly or diffusely.