Most laser experts are well aware that consumers have misused handheld lasers, both by causing eye injuries and by pointing at aircraft. One reason for this misuse may be labeling inadequacies. Existing labels warning about personal injury is a short, cursory admonition of only a few words. In addition, there is no required warning not to aim at aircraft. To help improve this situation, the author has proposed an improved laser safety label for laser products emitting visible beams sold to consumers. These include pointers, handhelds, and low-cost mass-produced laser show projectors. The "Laser Safety Facts" proposal starts with existing IEC or FDA style labeling. It then adds additional information in the same manner as labeling programs such as FDA's Nutrition Facts and Drug Facts. For example, on a Class 4 label a "Laser hazards" section goes into more detail about eye, skin, and aircraft/vehicle hazards. A "safe use guidance" section warns not to use the laser for pointing, that it is not a toy and is unsafe for children, and gives laser protective eyewear OD recommendations. With all this information, the main Laser Safety Facts label is relatively large. Thus, it is intended for packaging, instruction manuals, and larger laser products such as projectors. Because smaller lasers such as pointers could not fit all this information on a product-affixed label, another key aspect of the proposal is a web link. On the product label is a human-readable URL such as "LaserSafety.info/3B" or "LaserSafety.info/4". This takes the user to the appropriate web page for the laser's Class which gives detailed hazard information. An optional QR or DataMatrix code also allows a smartphone to instantly go to the webpage, with no typing required. In summary, the "Laser Safety Facts" proposal seeks to do for consumer lasers what Nutrition Facts did for food, and Drug Facts did for over-the-counter drugs. It is a non-profit proposal that currently works right now - any manufacturer can add the URL and/or QR codes to their product labeling. The short-term goal is for this to be voluntarily added by manufacturers or distributors. The long-term goal is for this to become an FDA-mandated program.
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