Which role is commonly responsible for developing and maintaining an installation's laser and optical radiation safety program?

• A. Workplace Supervisor
• B. Unit LSO
• C. Installation Laser Safety Officer
• D. Individual Worker

Answer: (C)

The Installation Laser Safety Officer is the person who develops and maintains a installation-wide laser and optical radiation safety program. This role is the designated safety professional responsible for creating the program’s policies, performing risk assessments for all laser use across the installation, selecting and implementing appropriate engineering and administrative controls, ensuring worker training and qualifications, conducting audits and incident investigations, and keeping records. They coordinate with unit LSOs and line supervisors, but hold the overarching responsibility for the program’s existence, adequacy, and compliance with relevant standards and regulations.

A unit LSO handles laser safety within a specific unit, which is important, but the installation-level program sits with the installation LSO. Workplace supervisors and individual workers implement and follow the program, not develop and maintain it.