Pontiac428, you do bring up a good point that lasers should not be taken lightly - and you bring up a different dynamic to the discussion of lasers (as well as other machinery) through regulations. I do not desire taking this down a rabbit hole and I am not a fan of the soap box, but as a former Quality guy I feel compelled to make some clarifications.
Your second paragraph may or may not be true, business to business. Splitting hairs as it may be, this tidbit of info is very important and is applicable to many gunsmiths and other small businesses. As defined by OSHA itself, OSHA standard do not apply to self-employed workers, immediate family members of farm employers, and workers who's hazards are covered by another federal agency. Stated another way... It needs to be understood that a business with only an owner/operator and no employees is primarily exempt from OSHA. OSHA is directed to the Business owner/employee dynamic. Could be a slip of the fingers, but in your comment (
if you are self-employed, you must follow all regs that state the employer shall...) you may be addressing both self-employed and an employer, can be two very different things. Self-employed does not directly insinuate you have employees. Being and employer does. Goodness, self-employed (no employees) business would never get off the ground if they had to keep up with regulations of bigger businesses.
I will also mention that ANSI & ISO are not law, but generally voluntary standards (although ANSI can become mandatory by "Incorporation by reference"). This is complex, so caution may be necessary when presenting an argument. Many big manufacturing company's benefit from advertising these accomplished labels like trophies... they are ISO and ANSI compliant as a way to show superior manufacturing performance efficiencies and practices over their competitors. I don't take anything away from that - safety should always be priority. I am not a "manufacturer" as many small gunsmith shops aren't. And while I want to make a very safe environment for myself in the shop, practicality and productivity (and to a proportionate degree, price) of implementing those standards must be considered.
With regard to the OMTech laser, they do provide correct filtering eye/face PPE which I definitely use. At 55, my eye capability is reducing and I wish to preserve as much as possible. There was an option to purchase a transparent acrylic filtered cover with interlock shut off as eye protection for passers-by, but I opted not to buy. 29 CFR 1910.133 requires the business (not the machine) to be compliant. The laser is in the corner with blackout curtains in the odd case I am engraving/marking during open hours. Since I am the only one behind the curtain and in the workshop consistently, it was an adequate solution for me. This laser also comes with other standard safety features as stated here...."
Separately grounded for your safety, the scanner, laser source, and rotary axis have separate power buttons. The access key precludes any unauthorized use of your laser, and the circuit breaker is ready in case of emergencies. Certified compliant with ISO standards 11553 & 12100 and IEC standards 60204 & 60825." So, if I had to be concerned, 29 CFR 1910.133, ANSI Z136.9 (Safe use of lasers in Manufacturing Environments) ISO and IEC standards are covered.
With all that said, the bottom line is that usually there is a solution that fits most budgets. Here's a more current photo. Wow, that is more than I wanted to ever write or think in a week.
