Which documents regulate lasers?

• A. AFI 48-139
• B. ANSI Z136.1
• C. OSHA 29 CFR 1910
• D. IEC 60825-1

Answer: (A)

Laser safety is governed by official documents that set how hazards are managed and who is responsible for protection. In the Air Force, the authoritative source for regulating lasers is the Air Force Instruction that covers Laser Radiation Protection. This instruction lays out the laser safety program itself, assigns roles and responsibilities, defines exposure limits and required controls, mandates training and medical monitoring, and guides incident reporting and eyewear policies. Because it is a formal policy document, it carries the force of regulation within Air Force environments and operations.

Other items you might encounter include ANSI Z136.1, which provides detailed safe-use practices as a standard rather than a binding regulation; IEC 60825-1, an international safety standard that informs technical criteria but isn’t the Air Force’s governing policy; and OSHA 29 CFR 1910, which governs general workplace safety and may touch on laser hazards, but again, is not the Air Force’s laser regulation. So the primary regulating document for lasers in this context is the Air Force Instruction on Laser Radiation Protection.