In the beginning there was ANSI Z136.1

In the early 60's concerns about eye safety were concentrated in a handful of research laboratories and the military. Memoranda and guidelines were circulated internally with their own set of priorities and recommended practices. Then in 1968, the First International Laser Safety Conference (the brainchild of Dr. Leon Goldman), was held in Cincinnati with one of its avowed purposes, the development of a consensus among the most prominent investigators as to what exposure criteria should be adopted. They saw the (laser) light. By 1969 it had become clear that, because of widespread differences in the many laser safety practices, a national consensus standard was needed. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) was requested by the U.S. Department of Labor to initiate that project, and the Z136 Committee began its work under Chairman George Wilkening. And, I was his Secretary. The Secretariat was the Telephone Group. We were told by ANSI that the ANSI Z136.1 standard ''for the Safe Use of Lasers'' was completed in record time - only three years to final draft and publication in 1973. Since those early hectic days, the ASC Z136 Committee has revised and updated Z136.1 in 1976, 1980, 1986, and 1993. These we will touch upon. The current work on the latest update efforts of Z136.1 will be described in session 2. Meanwhile the ASC Z136 Committee has issued, updated and is working on five other ANSI Z136.X standards. ANSI Z136 standards have served as models for state, federal and international laser safety documents throughout the world. It gives me great pleasure to point out that three of the original subcommittee chairs, R. James Rockwell Jr., David H. Sliney, and Myron L. Wolbarsht are still actively committed to the Z136 Committee and the International Laser Safety Conference '97.