Which administrative control are written procedures that should be established for operation, alignment, and maintenance of laser systems?

• A. NOMINAL HAZARD ZONE (NHZ)
• B. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPS)
• C. BEAM ENCLOSURES
• D. WARNING SYSTEMS

Answer: (B)

Standard Operating Procedures are the written, step-by-step instructions that guide how to operate, adjust, and maintain laser systems. They standardize every action, specify the exact procedures for alignment, set maintenance schedules, define safety checks, and outline required PPE and responses to issues. This makes tasks repeatable and safer because everyone follows the same documented process, reducing chances of human error and ensuring consistent performance and compliance.

The other options describe safety concepts that are not written procedures. A Nominal Hazard Zone defines the exposure area around the laser, which is an exposure boundary (an engineering/control concept), not a procedure. Beam enclosures are physical barriers that limit exposure (an engineering control), and warning systems are devices that alert or interlock but do not provide the written instructions for how to perform tasks.