Certified Safety Professional Practice Exam

The correct choice indicates a class of lasers whose exposure is considered safe when viewed with the naked eye, similar to Class 2 lasers. Class 3A lasers can emit levels of visible light that are potentially hazardous if viewed with optical aids, such as magnifying glasses or binoculars, since these aids can concentrate the light and potentially lead to eye damage. However, when viewed directly without such aids, Class 3A lasers pose a relatively low risk, comparable to Class 2 lasers, which are designed to be safe for momentary exposure as long as the beam is not directed into the eye.

Class 2 lasers, as noted, are inherently safe for momentary viewing because their output is generally less than 1 milliwatt and they have a fast enough response time that blinking provides adequate protection. Class 1 lasers are considered the safest, as they do not emit hazardous levels of radiation under normal operating conditions.

When considering the laser classes, Class 3B lasers, on the other hand, can cause vision damage from direct viewing without any corrective measures, making them more hazardous in comparison to both Class 2 and Class 3A lasers. Therefore, the alignment of Class 3A's safety profile when viewed without optical aids with Class