Responsibilities of Workers

Applying the labels is the manufacturer's duty whilst keeping them present and readable is the responsibility of the PCBU or employer. Workers should take reasonable care in following safety protocols and identify and report hazards. A worn, missing, damaged, illegible or obscured label is a hazard; without a label, the next user has no way of knowing the properties of the laser they are dealing with. A compliant label is durable, permanently fixed, legible while the equipment is running, and positioned so it can be read without exposure to the beam. If a worker notices a compromised, missing or non-compliant label they must not use the device until its class and specifications have been confirmed. The worker should report the hazard to their supervisor or laser safety officer who needs to obtain replacement labelling

The Warning Label

This is the hazard symbol itself: a triangle containing a starburst, representing a laser beam. It indicates that a laser radiation hazard exists, and to look for the explanatory label next to it.

The Explanatory Label

This is the text panel that gives the characteristics of the laser including maximum output power, wavelength, pulse duration where relevant, and the class. For Class 1 and Class 1M products, this information may be supplied in the user information manual provided with the product rather than on a label affixed to the device.. The explanatory label may be either written text or alternatively a pictorial label. A pictorial label typically has three panels: the hazard triangle on the left, the class number in the centre, and a prohibition symbol on the right indicating not to stare into the beam or view it with optical instruments. Note: most laser products sold in Australia are manufactured overseas, so it is common to see labels citing IEC 60825-1 or the European EN 60825-1 rather than the Australian designation. The Australian standard is a direct adoption of the IEC standard, so the classification scheme, the label formats and the symbols are the same.

The Aperture Label

This identifies the opening the beam comes out of. Aperture labels are required on Class 3R, Class 3B and Class 4 products. A device with an aperture label should be treated as though the marked opening is live whenever the system is powered. It is important to note that some Class 2 products will have an aperture label if the aperture could cause harm.

Why Labels Matter

In Australia, lasers must carry labelling that identifies the class of the laser, its maximum power output and wavelength (ARPANSA). This information allows a worker to understand how dangerous the device in front of them is. The requirements for labelling lasers are outlined by Standards Australia (2022) through AS/NZS IEC 60825.1:2014 Safety of laser products. Laser warning labels are an important means of hazard identification and help keep operators from being complacent (Mok et al., 2025).

Panel and Housing Markings

Where opening a panel would expose a person to laser radiation, that panel carries a marking for the class of laser they would be exposed to once it is open. This is often a much higher class than the label on the outside of the machine. A device that is Class 1 in normal use can be Class 4 with the cover off. 

Other Symbols on the Same Equipment

Laser labels rarely sit on their own. Most equipment also carries general safety pictograms, which vary slightly between manufacturers and standards, but follow a consistent visual pattern. This is depicted in figure 4. 

• Yellow triangles are warnings. They indicate a hazard exists.

• Blue circles are mandatory actions. They tell workers something they must do, such as read the instructions before use, wear eye protection, or wear hearing protection.

• Red circles with a diagonal bar are prohibitions. They tell you something you must not do, such as touch a surface or stare into the beam.

Area and Personal Protective Equipment Signage

Equipment labels are only one part of laser signage. Where higher-class lasers are in use, warning signs and illuminated indicators are placed at entrances to control access to the area while the laser is operating (Barat, 2022). Workplaces will often also display signage specifying the personal protective equipment required in a particular area. Workers must comply with the controls the signage sets out, and report signage that is faulty, missing or obscured. Unauthorised individuals entering a controlled area or working without the specified protection should be reported.  

References

Barat, K. (2022). Laser safety : practical knowledge and solutions (Second edition. ed.). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/978-0-7503-5504-9

Mok, D., Eloyan, N., Nabulsi, R., Chowdhury, S., Norkunas, K., Sindt, C., Koutin, G., Christoff-Tzazaroff, J., & Nguyen, T. (2025). Implementation of laser warning markings for equipment in the Australian standard as ISO 15189: 2023 accredited medical laboratory. Australian journal of medical science, 46(3), 138–144.

Standards Australia. (2022). Safety of laser products, Part 14: A user’s guide. In: Standards Australia