LASER FUNDAMENTALS

Understand How Lasers Work. Explore the fundamentals of laser light — wavelength, photons, stimulated emission, laser characteristics, and the main components of a laser system.

LASER TYPES & HAZARDS

Explore Laser Types & Hazards. Learn about solid-state, gas, and diode lasers, their main characteristics, and how wavelength, power, pulse duration, and beam properties affect potential hazards.

LASER SAFETY

Learn the Principles of Laser Safety. Understand laser hazard classes, MPE, OD, NOHD, NHZ, eye and skin hazards, and the basic principles of hazard analysis and protection.

About the course

Know the principles. Understand the risks. Apply safe practices. This course provides a practical understanding of laser safety, from the fundamental characteristics of laser radiation to hazard identification and risk control. Explore the factors that determine laser safety, including wavelength, power, beam characteristics, exposure time, and distance. Learn how different laser systems can create different levels of risk and why proper assessment is essential before working with laser equipment.

MEET GEORGE IVANENKO

Lighting Designer & Educator With 17 years of experience in lighting design, George Ivanenko has built his career through real-world work across large concerts, corporate events, theater productions, and live shows. His approach to education goes beyond learning equipment and software. George focuses on helping lighting professionals understand light, develop technical thinking, and make confident creative decisions in real production environments.

Curriculum

8 Chapters · 63 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      What Is a Laser?

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      The Wave and Particle Nature of Light

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      The Electromagnetic Spectrum

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Spontaneous Emission

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Stimulated Emission and Characteristics of Laser Light

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Laser Components and Basic Laser Design

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Types of Lasers

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Solid State Lasers

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Nd:YAG Laser

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Gas Lasers

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Helium-Neon Laser

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Argon Ion Lasers

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Diode Lasers

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Diode Laser Bars & Stacks

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Green DPSS Laser Pointer

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Output Characteristics

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Laser Spectrum

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Radiometric Terms and Units

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Continuous Wave (CW) Power and Energy

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Laser Temporal Outputs

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Beam Divergence

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Irradiance Calculation

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Laser Characteristics and Hazard

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Laser Injuries to Skin and Eyes

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Laser Tissue Interactions

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Laser Skin Injuries

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Types of Laser Eye Exposure

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      The Human Eye

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Eye Injury by Q-Switched Laser

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Eye Injuries at Various Wavelengths

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      LASER INCIDENTS: REAL STORIES FROM HISTORY

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Eye Protection

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Camera and Video Projector Damage

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Laser Classification

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Class 1

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Class 2

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Class 3R

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Class 3B

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Class 4

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Class 1M and Class 2M

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Laser Classification Summary

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      ANSI and IEC Classification

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Laser Safety Standards

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Overview of ANSI Z136.1

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Development of ANSI Z136.1

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      CDRH Requirements for Class 3B and Class 4 Lasers

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Additional CDRH Requirements

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Emission Indicator and Beam Attenuator

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Location of Controls and Viewing Optics

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Key Factors in an ANSI Laser Safety Program

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Duties of the Laser Safety Officer (LSO)

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Suggested SOP Format

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Protective Housing Labels

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      CDRH Class Warning Labels

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      International Warning Labels

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Other Required CDRH Labels

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Basic Hazard Analysis Concepts

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Determining the MPE

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      MPE and Exposure Duration

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      MPE Example — Diode Laser Pointer

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Test

Learn. Understand. Apply.

Hear from professionals who have explored laser safety through our training and gained practical knowledge for working with laser systems.

”
The course explains complex laser safety concepts in a clear and structured way. I especially liked the practical approach and the focus on understanding the actual risks behind the technology.
Alex M.

Lighting Technician

I learned how wavelength, power, exposure and beam characteristics affect safety. The information is well organized and gives you a much better understanding of what to consider before working with laser equipment.
Daniel R.

Show Production Specialist

”
The course helped me connect the theory with real working situations. I now have a much clearer understanding of laser hazards, safety procedures, and the responsibilities involved in working with laser systems.
Michael T.

Event Professional

READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?

Build a stronger understanding of laser safety and learn how to identify hazards, assess risks, and apply safe working practices. Whether you work with lasers in live events, entertainment, production, or other professional environments, this course gives you the knowledge to approach laser safety with greater awareness and confidence.

Start learning now