Laser safety

[Dazzler]

It was my sister-in-law's wedding in Bournemouth on Saturday and, after much deliberation and family discussion, we all decided that it would be best that I didn't run the disco a) so I could get drunk and enjoy myself, and b) because the wife and I had to get up early the next morning as we had tickets for the 20-20 cricket at Lords.

Cue an agonising four hours of me mentally criticising the DJ all evening for his choice of music. It seemed that everytime he managed to get more than five people on the dance floor and he would then suddenly change the tempo or genre of music and lose them all again (70s disco straight into modern RnB; a very upbeat 80s classic that I can't remember straight into Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff,etc). :bang: (and on a personal note.... he didn't have 'September' by Earth, Wind and Fire on his hard drive so the Mrs was disappointed).

But, that's not why I am writing. I do not possess a laser amongst my own set-up, but everything I have read about them suggests that they should be directed over the heads of the audience. This guy had his pointed straight at us all evening. Admittedly, the patterns it projected onto the back wall of the room looked fantastic, but between him and said back wall were nearly 100 people. Are there lasers on the market that allow you to do this (according to the casing of the laser it is a Firefly Laser T-3010RG)? Not knowing enough about them I didn't want to say anything on the night and look a complete idiot (or upset my sister-in-law) so I just quietly kept telling my wife and her cousins to dance with their backs to the DJ:) ).

If it is dangerous then I will email the company and mention it.

On the positive side, his set-up was nice and tidy :D

[Charlie Brown]

Ahh well, it's the always the case when you observe another DJ isn't it. :) The laser shouldn't have been firing at the audience though but I wounder how many are effected by DJ's not pointing their laser in the right direction, if any?

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

Ahh well, it's the always the case when you observe another DJ isn't it. :) The laser shouldn't have been firing at the audience though but I wounder how many are effected by DJ's not pointing their laser in the right direction, if any?

For once Charlie i disagree. Lasers are extremely powerful as they work by condensing alot of energy into a tiny pin point of light and can create alot of damage to the back of the eye without the person knowing it. This is why H&S is so tight around the use of them.

I know it is possible to "scan" laser beams through an audience briefly but this must be carefully calculated to ensure it causes no damage. If this has not been carefully calculated ALL lasers should be above head height and pointing away from the public.

Surely when it comes to public safety it would be better to be safe than sorry than to take a risk and put peoples safety at risk just for the sake of a lighting effect:confused:

[Pe7e]

If it is dangerous then I will email the company and mention it.

On the positive side, his set-up was nice and tidy :D

The Firefly Laser T-3010RG is a relatively low powered diffraction laser (similar to the KAM starcluster) the lasers are split into 200+ beams which 'dilutes' the overall power even further. IMO these lasers don't pose a real risk when scanning an audience from a normal working distance.

[OllieJames]

The Firefly Laser T-3010RG is a relatively low powered diffraction laser (similar to the KAM starcluster) the lasers are split into 200+ beams which 'dilutes' the overall power even further. IMO these lasers don't pose a real risk when scanning an audience from a normal working distance.

I was going to post the exact same as you. In my opinion I don't have an issue with shining the laser onto the dancefloor. If i was to use a scanning flat-beam laser, then i would shine it above people's heads.

[Dazzler]

Thanks guys... that has helped set my mind at ease. Like I said, my knowledge of lasers is pretty minimal and I was only asking to see if I needed to send a polite email to the company.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

For once Charlie i disagree. Lasers are extremely powerful as they work by condensing alot of energy into a tiny pin point of light and can create alot of damage to the back of the eye without the person knowing it. This is why H&S is so tight around the use of them.

I know it is possible to "scan" laser beams through an audience briefly but this must be carefully calculated to ensure it causes no damage. If this has not been carefully calculated ALL lasers should be above head height and pointing away from the public.

Surely when it comes to public safety it would be better to be safe than sorry than to take a risk and put peoples safety at risk just for the sake of a lighting effect:confused:

As ive said before...cant be that tight when you look at the big super clubs and dance events that are held all over the country..........

[DeckstarDeluxe]

in regards to the laser. The chance of damaging someones eyes is miminal but why on earth would you risk it. Get caught out and its too late to repair someones eye. I know I dont want to live the rest of my life knowing I blinded someone.....

In regards to the music maybe the dj had a playlist?

Im shocked he did not have september, one of my favourite songs ever

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Im shocked he did not have september, one of my favourite songs ever

The Phats & Small remix?........

[DeckstarDeluxe]

The Phats & Small remix?........

no EWF!

Phats and small one is ok but always go for the original :D

[Ajaysdisco]

I’ve often thought it would look good with a little haze, if I shone a star cluster into the crowd but, as other people have said, it’s not worth the risk.

Have a read of this (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23516104-details/Dozens+of+ravers+blinded+at+Moscow+party+by+laser+ light+show/article.do)

[Dynamic Entertainment]

As a sky laser Adam it was probably in the reigon of 10w (Watts not mW). Still worrying that it happened.... dodgy technicians

[Pe7e]

I’ve often thought it would look good with a little haze, if I shone a star cluster into the crowd but, as other people have said, it’s not worth the risk.

Have a read of this (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23516104-details/Dozens+of+ravers+blinded+at+Moscow+party+by+laser+ light+show/article.do)

You can't compare the two lasers with each other, it's as silly as comparing a AK47 with a pea shooter. The star cluster type diffraction lasers are the safest of all the DJ market lasers, I personally think they look the most effective when pointed at the ceiling or a blank wall the effect is lost when pointing at a busy dance floor.

[Ajaysdisco]

As a sky laser Adam it was probably in the reigon of 10w (Watts not mW). Still worrying that it happened.... dodgy technicians



You can't compare the two lasers with each other, it's as silly as comparing a AK47 with a pea shooter. The star cluster type diffraction lasers are the safest of all the DJ market lasers, I personally think they look the most effective when pointed at the ceiling or a blank wall the effect is lost when pointing at a busy dance floor.

True, star clusters are generally safer as the energy is spread over several dots. But even a small wattage can cause damage:

Class I/1 is inherently safe, usually because the light is contained in an enclosure, for example in cd players.
Class II/2 is safe during normal use; the blink reflex of the eye will prevent damage. Usually up to 1 mW power, for example laser pointers.
Class IIIa/3R lasers are usually up to 5 mW and involve a small risk of eye damage within the time of the blink reflex. Staring into such a beam for several seconds is likely to cause (minor) eye damage.
Class IIIb/3B can cause immediate severe eye damage upon exposure. Usually lasers up to 500 mW, such as those in cd and dvd burners.
Class IV/4 lasers can burn skin, and in some cases, even scattered light can cause eye and/or skin damage. Many industrial and scientific lasers are in this class.

[JAMdisco]

I know I dont want to live the rest of my life knowing I blinded someone.....

I asked my step-daughters (who frequent clubs a lot) about how the clubs use lasers, they said the majority scan them through the crowds (and showed me pictures to prove it).

I think that blinding someone with an 'effect' laser is highly unlikely, probably more likely to damage their hearing first with loud music.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I asked my step-daughters (who frequent clubs a lot) about how the clubs use lasers, they said the majority scan them through the crowds (and showed me pictures to prove it).

I think that blinding someone with an 'effect' laser is highly unlikely, probably more likely to damage their hearing first with loud music.

Im being serious when I say what do most club owners know about laser safety..........