PROMULGATION OF THE COAST GUARD LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY

R 081849Z JUL 11ALCOAST 326/11COMDTNOTE 5103SUBJ: PROMULGATION OF THE COAST GUARD LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BYSTIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION (LASER) HAZARD CONTROL POLICY,COMDTINST 5100.271. THIS ALCOAST ANNOUNCES THE PROMULGATION OF THE COAST GUARD LIGHTAMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION (LASER) HAZARDCONTROL POLICY, COMDTINST 5100.27. THIS INSTRUCTION IS A RESULT OFSIGNIFICANT EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN TO DEVELOP THE COMPREHENSIVE POLICYAND PROCEDURES REQUIRED UNDER FEDERAL LAW TO EMPLOY THESETECHNOLOGIES.2. AS THE COAST GUARD MODERNIZES ITS OPERATIONAL RESOURCES, SEVERALOF OUR NEW PLATFORMS ARE EXPECTED TO COME EQUIPPED WITH LASERCAPABILITIES PREVIOUSLY FOUND ONLY IN RESEARCH, MEDICAL ANDDISTINCTLY DOD FUNCTIONS. CONCURRENTLY, ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGYHAVE MADE IT EASIER TO PURCHASE LASER EQUIPMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL ANDMAINTENANCE RELATED APPLICATIONS THAT COULD PRESENT A HAZARD TOOPERATORS AND COWORKERS IF OPERATED OUTSIDE OF SPECIFIC GUIDELINES.TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE AND REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITHFEDERAL REGULATIONS THIS INSTRUCTION OUTLINES THE LASER HAZARDCONTROL POLICY TO BE USED WHEN ACQUIRING NEW SYSTEMS OR SEEKINGAUTHORIZATION TO EMPLOY CURRENTLY OWNED LASER SYSTEMS. THE POLICYAPPLIES IMMEDIATELY TO ALL LASER EQUIPMENT BEING CONSIDERED FORACQUISITION, THOSE CURRENTLY IN USE, OPERATIONAL OR INDUSTRIAL, ANDWILL BE SYSTEMATICALLY APPLIED TO LASER EMITTING DEVICES AWAITINGIMPLEMENTATION (OWNED BUT NOT YET OPERATIONALLY FIELDED).3. LASER INVENTORY: TO PROPERLY ASSESS THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITHLASER USAGE, ALL UNITS SHALL CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY OFLASER PRODUCTS USED AT THEIR UNIT OR FACILITY. THIS INVENTORY (OF ALLCLASSES) CAN BE USEFUL IN HELPING AN INDIVIDUAL COMMAND EVALUATERISKS AND DEVELOP MITIGATION STRATEGIES. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ONLASERS AND CONTROL MEASURES CAN BE FOUND AT: HTTP://WWW.OSHA.GOV.INFORMATION ON UNIT HELD CLASS 3B AND CLASS 4 LASERS WILL BEFORWARDED ON TO COMDT (CG-11) FOR TRACKING AND APPROVAL PURPOSES ASREQUIRED IN THE INSTRUCTION.4. NEW ACQUISITIONS: PROGRAM MANAGERS AND ACQUISITION OFFICES THATINTEND TO PURCHASE CLASS 3A OR CLASS 3R LASERS WITHOUT AN FDAASSURANCE NUMBER, OR ANY CLASS 3B OR CLASS 4 LASERS, MUST CONTACTCOMDT (CG-11) REPS DESIGNATED BELOW TO DISCUSS CERTIFICATION,INTENDED USE, AND CONTROL MEASURES NEEDED FOR SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION.A CGPORTAL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT HAS ALL OF THE DRAFT PROGRAMREQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS GUIDES REQUIRED FOR SYSTEM REVIEW. CONTACTLCDR SHANA DONALDSON FOR ACCESS TO THE SITE.5. OPERATIONAL USE OF LASERS FOR OTHER THAN INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES: A. FOR ALL UNITS, DOD EXEMPTIONS DO NOT TRANSFER TO USCG OWNEDLASER SYSTEMS OR PLANNED PURCHASES. UNITS WISHING TO EMPLOY A LASERMUST COMPLY WITH THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN THIS POLICY REGARDLESSOF DOD EXEMPTION STATUS. B. FOR AVIATION UNITS, THE USE OF LASERS (REGARDLESS OFCLASSIFICATION) IN CONJUNCTION WITH AVIATION OPERATIONS REQUIRESAPPROVAL FROM THE AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATION CONTROL BOARD (ACCB) PRIORTO USE. SUBMIT ACCB REQUESTS IAW NORMAL PROCEDURES. C. FOR ALL OTHER OPERATIONAL UNITS, IF USING A LASER LOWER THANCLASS 3B, THE UNIT MUST ENSURE THE LASER HAS AN FDA ASSURANCE NUMBERAND REVIEW THE PROCEDURES IN PLACE REGARDING THE USE OF LASERS TOENSURE USERS ARE AWARE OF ANY ASSOCIATED RISKS THAT MAY BE PRESENT.CONTACT COMDT (CG-11) REPS LISTED BELOW IF ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED WITHIMPLEMENTING LASER HAZARD CONTROL MITIGATION STRATEGIES.6. ELECTRONIC COPIES OF THE INSTRUCTION ARE AVAILABLE ON CG PORTAL.(TO ACCESS, LOG INTO CG PORTAL, CLICK ON THE REFERENCES TAB, CLICKNEXT ON THE USCG DIRECTIVES LINK, CLICK AGAIN ON THE USCG DIRECTIVESLINK, AND CLICK ON THE LINK FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY). IT IS ALSOAVAILABLE ON THE COMDT WEBSITE AT THE BELOW LINK:HTTP://CGWEB.COMDT.USCG.MIL/CGDIRECTIVEWELCOME.HTM.PAPER COPIES OF THE INSTRUCTION WILL NOT BE DISTRIBUTED.7. COMDT (CG-113) SAFETY POLICY/CERTIFICATION/PROTECTION CONCERNS:LCDR SHANA DONALDSON 202-475-5199 OR MS. CAROLYN ONYE 202-475-5214.8. COMDT (CG-112) MEDICAL CONCERNS: CDR ERICA SCHWARTZ202-475-5172.9. RADM MARK TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORKLIFE,SENDS.10. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.