Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program << Back to National Alliances

(signed August 9, 2005; renewed August 22, 2007; May 8, 2012)

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The OSHA and LIA Alliance focuses on providing the organization's members and others, including small businesses with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to laser beam and non-beam hazards in industrial and medical workplaces. In addition, the organizations will share information on laser regulations and standards, bioeffects lasers have on the eyes and skin, laser control measures and laser safety program administration. The Alliance goals include:

Outreach and communication:

  • To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA's and the LIA's Web sites) to OSHA staff, employers and workers in the industry.
  • To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or LIA’s conferences, local meetings, or other laser safety training events such as LIA’s International Laser Safety conference.
  • To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding LIA’s good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.

Milestones and Successes


Related Documents

Alliance Agreements

Alliance Annual Reports

Alliance News Releases


Activities and Events

  • May 6-12, 2012: 2012 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The Laser Institute of America and a number of other Alliance Program participants support 2012 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by ASSE and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. 2012 Theme: “Safety, What Every Business Needs.”
  • September 2006 through May 2011: Laser Safety in the Workplace Best Practices Seminar. Through the OSHA and LIA Alliance, LIA representatives conducted 13 training seminars on what to look for and key questions to ask when entering facilities that use lasers. [More...]
  • May 2-8, 2010: 2010 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The Laser Institute of America and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2010 NAOSH Week, "Mission NAOSH 2010: Safe Workplaces." Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
  • October 19-25, 2009: 2009 Drug-Free Work Week. LIA and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2009 Drug-Free Work Week. Sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Labor's Working Partners for an Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace Program, the Week focused on educating employers, employees and the public about the importance of being drug-free as an essential component of a safe and healthful workplace.
  • May 28, 2009: OSHA-NIOSH Seminar Series, Washington, DC.
    • Through the OSHA and LIA Alliance, Gus Anibarro presented, "Laser Safety Hazard Identification & Control: 13 Questions an OSHA Compliance Officer Should Ask."
  • May 3-9, 2009: 2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The Laser Institute of America (LIA) and more than 55 other Alliance Program participants supported 2009 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for 2009 NAOSH Week was "Safety Means Always Coming Home."
    • May 4, 2009: Gus Anibarro, Education Director, LIA, attended the NAOSH Week Kick-off event at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC. Acting Assistant Secretary Jordan Barab, USDOL-OSHA; Warren Brown, President, ASSE; and Andrew Cooper, Secretary, CSSE; provided brief remarks. The Kick-off also featured an Alliance Program participant panel with presentations from Alliance Program participants American Heart Association, ASSE, Independent Electrical Contractors, and National Safety Council focusing on workplace safety and health issues.
    • May 4, 2009: Gus Anibarro, Education Director, LIA, attended the OSHA-led afternoon seminar. Barnett Lawrence, Compliance Assistance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP), USDOL-OSHA presented "Navigating the OSHA Web Site." Amanda Edens, Deputy Director, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, USDOL-OSHA; Michael Walterschied, Area Director, Region III, Baltimore/Washington D.C. Area Office, USDOL-OSHA; John Ferris, Director, Office of Emergency Management, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, USDOL-OSHA; and Doug Goodell, then-Acting Deputy Director, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA participated on the "OSHA Update" panel discussion. Elizabeth Way, Director, OOSA, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA presented "OSHA Top 10 Violations and Compliance Assistance Resources."
  • March 16-19, 2009: Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) 56th Annual Congress, McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois.
    • March 14-15, 2009: Through the OSHA and LIA Alliance and the OSHA and AORN Alliance, LIA instructors, Kay Ball, RN, BSN, MSA, PhD, CNOR, FAAN, and Vangie Dennis, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, Clinical Manager, Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth, Georgia, conducted the Medical Laser Safety Training Course for 70 attendees.
  • October 20-26, 2008: 2008 Drug-Free Work Week. The Laser Institute of America and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2008 Drug-Free Work Week. Sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Labor's Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Program, the Week focused on educating employers, employees and the public about the importance of being drug-free as an essential component of a safe and healthful workplace.
  • October 6-7, 2008: Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Multi-Specialty Conference, Hyatt Regency, St. Louis, Missouri. Through the OSHA and LIA Alliance and the OSHA and AORN Alliance, LIA instructor, Vangie Dennis, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, Clinical Manager, Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth, Georgia, conducted the Medical Laser Safety Officer Course.
  • May 4-10, 2008: 2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The Laser Institute of America and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2008 NAOSH Week, "Safety is Good Business." Sponsored annually by American Society of Safety Engineers and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

Products and Resources

Alliance Program Participant Developed Products

  • Laser Effects on the Human Eye [PDF* - 2 MB]. Through the OSHA and Laser Institute of America (LIA) Alliance, LIA developed "Laser Effects on the Human Eye." The Fact Sheet focuses on the effect lasers have on the human eye. (2009, November)
  • Preventing Injury from Laser Skin Treatment [PDF* - 1 MB]. Through the OSHA and Laser Institute of America (LIA) Alliance, LIA developed " Preventing Injury from Laser Skin Treatment." The Fact Sheet provides information on the potential injury from lasers used for dermatological purposes such as tattoo removal, vascular lesions, and other dermatological surgery. (2009, November)
  • Hazards of Laser Welders, Cutters, Heat Treaters and Punch Presses [PDF* - 2 MB]. Through the OSHA and Laser Institute of America (LIA) Alliance, LIA developed " Hazards of Laser Welders, Cutters, Heat Treaters and Punch Presses." The Fact Sheet addresses hazards associated with using high-power welders and cutters in industrial settings. (2009, November)
  • Laser Safety Information Bulletin [PDF* - 2 MB]. Through the OSHA and Laser Institute of America (LIA) Alliance, LIA developed "Laser Safety Information Bulletin." The Bulletin focuses on the concerns and issues related to laser safety. (2006, September)

OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages

OSHA eTools

Additional Resources

** Alliance Implementation Team members serve on the editorial board.
+ Alliance Implementation Team members participated in the development of this resource.


Areas of Emphasis



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