Health Canada is advising Canadians about the potential dangers related to battery-operated hand-held lasers or laser pointers. Handheld lasers, which may resemble pens or flashlights, are most commonly used to point at objects in lectures or presentations, though they may also be advertised for other uses. In particular, lasers that emit Class 3B/IIIb or 4/IV accessible radiation Footnote 1 have the potential to cause serious harm due to the intensity of the radiation that they emit. They may also pose a fire hazard. Exposure to a direct or reflected beam – even for a fraction of a second – may cause permanent eye damage and burns. A controlled laser safety environment and professional laser safety training are necessary for the safe operation of Class 3B/IIIb and 4/IV lasers. Health Canada reminds industry and Canadians that, under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act , it is prohibited to manufacture, import, advertise or sell any consumer product that poses an unreasonable hazard Footnote 2 as a result of its normal or foreseeable use. Furthermore, under the Radiation Emitting Devices Act, it is prohibited to sell, lease or import into Canada a laser that creates a risk to any person of genetic or personal injury, impairment of health or death from radiation by reason of the fact that it either does not perform according to the characteristics claimed for it, does not accomplish its claimed purpose, or emits radiation that is not necessary in order for it to accomplish its claimed purpose. Health Canada will take appropriate action when non-compliant lasers are found. To help reduce these potential health risks, battery-operated hand-held lasers or laser pointers manufactured, advertised, sold, imported or leased should be limited to the classification of Class 3R/IIIa or less. Under the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard IEC 60825-1, laser products are categorized in the following order, from the lowest to highest potential risk: Class 1, 1M, 2, 2M, 3R, 3B and 4. Title 21 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1040.10 (21 CFR 1040.10), administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), categorizes lasers in the following order, from the lowest to highest potential risk: Class I, IIa, II, IIIa, IIIb, and IV. Approximate IEC / FDA Equivalent Laser Classes Class IEC FDA 1 I 1M 2 IIa, II 2M 3R IIIa 3B IIIb 4 IV * Data taken from the FDA publication Illuminating the Hazards of Powerful Laser Products Users should look for appropriate warning labels, safety features and instructions which explain how to properly handle the device. Users should also look for the classification of a laser on the label and in the instructions. If you are uncertain of a laser's classification, contact the manufacturer. Manufacturers often classify laser products using an international standard, such as the IEC Standard 60825-1 or the U.S. requirements set out in 21 CFR 1040.10.
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