1. This Military Standard is
approved for use by all Departments and Agencies of the Department of
Defense.
2. Beneficial comments
(recommendations, additions, deletions) and any pertinent data which may be of
use in improving this document should be addressed to: Commander, U.S. Army
Chemical Research, Development and Engineering Center, ATTN: SMCCR-PET-S,
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD21O1O, by using the self-addressed Standardization
Document Improvement Proposal (DDForm 1426) appearing at the end of this
document or by letter.
3. The purpose of this military
standard (MIL-STD) is to provide uniform requirements for the safe design of
military equipment which incorporates lasers. These requirements apply only to
laser products designed expressly for combat or combat training operations or
are classified in the interest of national security . In addition to providing
uniform design requirements for the DOD components, this MIL-STD provides
alternate controls, if necessary, to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
National Center for Devices and Radiological Health (NCDRH), radiation safety
performance standards prescribed in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), Subchapter, when the military exemption (FDA Exemption 76 EL-01 DOD) is
granted to FDA Standards. In certain areas the American National Standards for
the Safe Use of Lasers, ANSI 2136.1; the FDA Standard; the NATO STANAG 3606,
Evaluation and Control of Laser Hazards; or the DOD components’ laser
classifications or categories may differ. These differences have evolved due
to the rapid development of laser technology. Rather than add to this
proliferation of standards with new definitions, this MIL-STD adopts the ANSI
2136.1 definitions as the best compromise and most current and comprehensive
standard available when this MIL-STD was written. Military lasers which are
not exempted will be classified according to 21 CFR 1040.10. Exempt military
lasers or military lasers not covered by 21 CFR 1040.10 will use the
hazard classification of ANSI 2136.1. Additionally, this MIL-STD adopts the
maximum permissible exposure levels from ANSI 2136.1.
4. This 1983 version of this
military standard was revised in 1991 by the Laser System Safety Working
Group. This committee had representatives knowledgeable in laser safety from
the Departments of the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine
Corps.
