Name: CRS ID/: Sign:

Year: CU email Date:

Department of Engineering – Risk Assessment Ref No.

Title of project/experiment/activity
Supervised Undergraduate Use of Laser Cutters (Dyson Centre for Engineering Design)
(Two separate document will likely be submitted in the future [1] concerning unsupervised undergraduate use of
same; and [2] any servicing procedures beyond simple oiling and dirt removal, i.e. those which require the unit to be
switched on, or require hatches to be unlocked.)
Location of activity Start and end dates
Dyson Centre for Engineering Design Ongoing from signature dates on rear of form

Brief description (or attach procedure/protocol)

Use of a pair of HPC Laser Ltd, LS 6090 PRO Laser engraving and cutting machines (the 80 Watt laser tube version)
by undergraduates, supervised by one of six people trained by a representative of HPC Laser Ltd, to cut and
engrave a range of permitted materials.

The seven trained people are: Diana Thomas-McEwen (Dyson Centre Technicain), Richard Roebuck (Dyson Centre
Manager), Barny Coles* (Lab Manager), Jeremy Penfold* (Technician), Kevin Bullman* (Technician), Matt Stewart*
(Apprentice Technician), Adam Greig (Postgraduate student undertaking PhD). All were trained by the HPC
representative in normal use of the machine. All bar Adam Greig were also trained in the weekly and monthly
routine servicing of the machine (annual servicing will be carried out by HPC).

Four keys are available for the machines (each key can turn on the power for either machine) and these keys will be
retained between the six trained people listed above.

A Safe System of Work for this activity has also been written, and is attached to the rear of this document.

Hazard Effect Control measures Residual risk

Exposure to Burns, cuts (and • Keep all hatches locks – hatch keys secured away These control
invisible 80 Watt effects resulting and controlled by one person (Centre Manager). measures
laser beam from), blindness • Check hatches secure before turning power on. should remove
• Check machine, including lid, for damage before this potential
turning power on. hazard.
• Interlock should turn off invisible laser beam
when lid is lifted (though doesn’t stop cutting
head moving side‐to‐side and front‐to‐back).
• Press “Pause” or “Stop” before lifting lid, even in
the event of an emergency (i.e. fire starting in
machine).
• Test lid interlock functions by periodic checking
that observed cutting stops when lid is lifted (no
hands should be placed into the machine during
this test). Suggest undertaken during weekly
maintenance of machine, whilst wearing laser
goggles suitable for protection against 10.6
micron lasers.
 Department of Engineering – Risk Assessment Ref No.

Hazard Effect Control measures Residual risk

Entrapment of Crush injuries –  Always pause the movement of the cutting head If the control
hand or arm by likely severity before lifting the lid of the machine, if it is part measures are
moving cutting unknown as force way through a cutting operation (the interlock on observed,
head. available from the lid will turn the lid off, but the pause button residual risk of
drive mechanism need to be pressed to stop the cutting head injury comes
Note: operations
is unknown – moving). from operator
which require
though it is error or
the placing of
capable of  Only have one person operating the machine at machine
fingers, hand/s, any one time, to prevent one operator unpausing
relatively high malfunction.
arm/s in its path: the machine whilst the other has the lid lifted.
rates of
1. Inserting
acceleration.  Don’t place hands or arms in the potential path It may be
sheet to be
of the cutting head unnecessarily – it should only possible to
cut.
be necessary when initially inserting and finally make a cover to
2. Adjusting
removing materials and when setting the cutting prevent the
height of
head height. wrong button
cutting head.
being pressed,
3. Removing
 Take care to not push the wrong button whilst though it is
cut sheet and
setting the cutting head height (ie pressing “Test” suspected that
pieces.
will move the cutting head side‐to‐side and/or the cover would
When front‐to‐back, when the user should have only frequently be
extinguishing a been pressing “Up” and/or “Down” to slowly disregarded,
flame (no need raise or lower the bed). though may be
to be in cutting worth pursuing.
 Use a cutting head height gauge which avoids
heads path in
having to place any body parts in the way of the
this instance).
potential path of the cutting head.

Complications Risk of burns.  Don’t cut highly flammable materials (e.g. tissue Residual risk
when paper). comes from
extinguishing  Don’t leave the machine unattended and always operator still
flames caused watch for flames developing. getting close to
by laser locally  When cutting plastic/wood, only small flames are flames or
heating up likely, and those which don’t auto‐extinguish tackling flames
material being should be blown out manually by pausing the which are too
cut. machine and lifting the lid first. large, or cutting
 When cutting card, care should be taken to prohibited
sensibly minimise the rate at which energy is put materials
into the material to avoid risk of fire. (either
 When blowing out flames, care should be taken accidentally or
to avoid getting dangerously close. deliberately).
 Flames which are too large shouldn’t be tackled,
and the last resort fire extinguisher should be
used.
 Department of Engineering – Risk Assessment Ref No.

Hazard Effect Control measures Residual risk

Fumes from Poisoning/gassing Ensure fume filter is running at sufficient feed to draw Residual risk
materials being from fumes. visible emissions from cutting to back of laser cutting remains from
cut. machine and to avoid smells emanating from the laser failure of
cutting machine – it is recommended that at least three machine
lights are list on the fume filter (number of lights safeguards,
indicates extraction rate). operator error,
or operator
The system should refuse to run if the filters are clogged. cutting
prohibited
If the operator starts to feel unwell, or become aware of materials
smells in the atmosphere around the machine, they (either
should stop the machine immediately. accidentally or
deliberately).
Materials which produce dangerous/damaging fumes
should never be cut on the machine.

Presence of Risk of Machine presence in a lab with RCDs (Residual Current With the
water based electrocution Devices) fitted on all electrical circuits. exception of
cooling from water freak
systems in a making contact Operator should not interact with the water container occurrences,
240V electrical with live circuits with the power switched on. the control
machine. and operator. measures to the
Power should be turned off immediately if any water is left are felt to
spotted leaking from the machine, taking care not to pass remove the
through any water on the floor. hazard.

If the power off can’t be reached, help should be

summoned to the area, without leaving the area
unguarded.

Personal Protective Equipment required [eye/face protection, respiratory protection, gloves, lab coat etc]

According to the training provided by HPC Laser Ltd, no PPE is required. However, we are considering the purchase
of some laser goggles suitable for protection against lasers of 10.6micron wavelength.

Emergency Instructions & First Aid

Emergency instructions relating to fire are detailed in the Safe System of Work.

In the case of first aid being required, normal procedures should be adopted, re burns, seeking a first aider if
necessary, etc.
 Department of Engineering – Risk Assessment Ref No.

Any special monitoring required [e.g. hearing test, vibration monitoring, health surveillance]

No such monitoring is felt to be required – see Safe System of Work for suggested details for operation

Further control measures required? If yes, list with actions.

Please see Safe System of Work for details of control measures.

Biological/Laser/Radiation Approval [requires relevant Specialist Safety Officer signature and date]

Laser cutter hence involving the Department’s Laser Safety Officer in Health and Safety paperwork and process.

Out of hours/Lone working

Out of normal departmental hours working may be possible, as, of those trained, the Dyson Centre Manager does
not have a fixed hours contract and is frequently present till later into the evenings on week days and sometimes
attends the department during the weekend; additionally Adam Greig is a PhD student and also works outside of
standard departmental hours.

Lone working involving equipment, tools, etc. in the Dyson Centre is not allowed – people are suggested to always
work in threes as a minimum: if one gets injured, then one person can assist them and the third person can guide
help to them from the front of the building.

Signature to confirm that this is a suitable and sufficient assessment of risk and that stated control measures
are in place. This risk assessment should be reviewed if additional risks not covered in this assessment are
identified or if there is any reason to indicate that the control measures are insufficient.

THE FOLLOWING LIST OF SIGNATORIES HAS BEEN MODIFIED, AS THE STANDARD LIST OF ASSESSOR, NAME OF
SUPERVISOR, LOCAL SAFETY COORDINATOR AND DEPARTMENTAL SAFETY OFFICER WAS NOT FELT TO BE A
GOOD FIT WITH DIVISION W’S STRUCTURE OR THE PLANNED ACTIVITY.

Dr Richard Roebuck (Assessor): Signature/Digital‐Signature Date

Manager of the Dyson Centre
Email: rlr20@[Link]
Alistair Ross: Line Manager for those on Signature/Digital‐Signature Date
front page marked with a *.
Email: asr21@[Link]
Prof Tim Wilkinson Signature/Digital‐Signature Date
Department Laser Officer
Email: tdw13@[Link]
Ian Slack Signature/Digital‐Signature Date
Departmental Safety Office
Email: is307@[Link]
 Department of Engineering – Risk Assessment Ref No.

Title of project/experiment/activity
Supervised Undergraduate Use of Laser Cutters (Dyson Centre for Engineering Design)
(A separate document will likely be submitted in the future concerning unsupervised undergraduate use of same;
and any servicing procedures, save for oiling and dirty removal with the unit switched off and no hatches requiring
to be unlocked.)

Additional Users Signature/Digital‐Signature Date

Barny Coles

Jeremy Penfold

Kevin Bullman

Matt Stewart

Adam Greig

Signatures to confirm that risk assessment has been read and understood.