IR laser saftey

[grimSG01]

Hi all, just getting back into Airsoft after a long hiatus and been playing around with my IR lasers.
My zentio replica puts a little dot out under night vision but my dbal replica sends out a light saber that looks like it can hit the moon.
I wouldn't want that shining in my face, especially as you wouldn't even know to look away or blink.
No idea what the power output is on either.
With night games and night vision becoming more common is this something that's thought about?
Can lasers powered be measured?

 

[hitmanNo2]

They can but the equipment is a few hundred £ so sites are unlikely to want to invest plus would they have the technical ability to operate it.

What works is simply, don't be a dick and use your brain. Replica DBALs are notorious for high power output. You shouldn't be using full power lasers which should be covered in the safety brief. And then avoid aiming lasers at heads.

 

[Tommikka]

If sold in the UK they “should” be safe, and should have specifications in the product safety sheet
Sites should also have a policy on their use

Laser radiation: safety advice

www.gov.uk

Consumer laser products in the visible spectrum ought to be safe, and if they meet the eye would trigger blinking and the player using it should be moving it / flicking off the laser
Non visible is more of an issue

There’s a lot of shoulds about

 

[grimSG01]

I

They can but the equipment is a few hundred £ so sites are unlikely to want to invest plus would they have the technical ability to operate it.

What works is simply, don't be a dick and use your brain. Replica DBALs are notorious for high power output. You shouldn't be using full power lasers which should be covered in the safety brief. And then avoid aiming lasers at heads.

Click to shrink...

That's alright to say but there are plenty of people who won't even think about it!

If sold in the UK they “should” be safe, and should have specifications in the product safety sheet
Sites should also have a policy on their use

Laser radiation: safety advice

www.gov.uk

Consumer laser products in the visible spectrum ought to be safe, and if they meet the eye would trigger blinking and the player using it should be moving it / flicking off the laser
Non visible is more of an issue

There’s a lot of shoulds about

Click to shrink...

Both mine were brought in the UK and neither came with a datasheet... Think a lack of understanding from retailers or a lack of care.

I suppose like everything health and safety would probably see better rules after an accident.

 

[Tackle]

While not mentioned today, aren't green lasers also a big issue too ?, something about the light frequency & colour not triggering the blink reaction in the eye that occurs with red lasers, while still able to cause considerable harm.
Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken

 

[MrTea]

I think a lot of green lasers aren't abiding by the safe power limits when bought from overseas and these green lasers often lack any sort of IR filtering too. I'd like to think reputable UK stores are only stocking items that are safe but you never know. More what I remember reading about than what I actually know.

The 'blink response' or lack of it, is for IR lasers if I recall correctly as it's not visible to the naked eye. In theory, an IR laser can cause damage to someones eye(s) without them realising it before it's too late.

I think a lot of people massively underestimate just how dangerous lasers are.

 

[Galvatron]

Most sites that allow lasers allow up to Class 3R and that's hardly "safe". They won't cut through metal or burn skin but that's plenty to cause serious retinal damage in a short space of time.

 

[hitmanNo2]

Every site I've been to has banned green lasers. And blue fwiw. Only red and IR allowed and some sites ban IR.

 

[The_Lord_Poncho]

My local site bans all lasers, as they have no means to test them. Seems fair enough.

 

[Adolf Hamster]

My local site bans all lasers, as they have no means to test them. Seems fair enough.

Click to shrink...

I'd definately lean this way, especially given there are other safer (and imo more effective) options for aiming.

 

[Cannonfodder]

My local site bans all lasers, as they have no means to test them. Seems fair enough.

Click to shrink...

Usually I'm not usually one for banning bits of kit but in this case that's probably the best option, especially with how cheap and easily available they are from china with stated power ratings which are as accurate and believable as your horoscope

 

[Emergencychimps]

Id add a different dimension here too.

Night vision at night games is more prevalent than ever before, an ir laser is much more of a give away than ever before of your location and you'll find at big milsim games they just aren't widely used anymore. Add in the eye safety risks, I'd encourage you not to get one from a tactical and safety point of view. Some peqs (I think somogear and evolution gear), allow you to use ir torches but they're very focusable, not quite as tight as a laser but not far off.

Instead, get a good optic with a night setting. Vortex do good red dots and evolution gear/holy warrior do good versions of the eotech (holy warrior is the S1 model you're after). You'll want to spend on this as the amount of light the optic let's through, how bright the dot is etc all affect how well you'll be able to aim.

Learn to shoot passively. Id also suggest a riser, its a "cool guy" look but does help under nods with passive aiming.

Then get a good ir torch, there are ones that are switchable. Id recommend having a white light as well, I found running my torch on ir and my peq on white light a good combo, both available via pressure pads on the rail.

Sometimes you'll need ir light (especially indoors), or you'll want to draw fire etc or overcome photonic barriers....white can help with that.