6. Be a good operator

To use the laser, two people are needed:

• Operator: the person that starts the laser
• Controller: the person that double-checks the operator

Both roles are needed to work with a laser safely.

In this lesson, we practice being a good operator.

• Find a controller to work with you
• Read the procedure for the operator

In this session, we never start the laser. All you will say is 'Laser is on'.

Exercise 1: test the controller

• Take off your glasses
• Let the operator start the procedure
• During countdown, say 'stop'
• However, in step 3, the operator must stop the procedure.
• The controller (not you!) fails if the laser would have been started

Exercise 2: test the operator

• The controller takes off his/her glasses
• Let the operator start the procedure
• In step 3, stop the procedure
• You pass if you stopped the procedure in step 3
• The controller (not you!) fails if the laser would have been started

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Exercise 3: test the controller again

• Turn off the air flow
• Start the procedure
• During countdown, say 'stop'
• However, in step 1, the operator must say 'stop' to stop the procedure
• The operator (not you!) fails if the laser would have been started

Exam

Do the following 5 times:

• A certified operator tells the controller secretly to:
  • Do the right thing
  • Put off glasses
• A certified operator tells the operator secretly to:
  • Do the right thing
  • Put off glasses
  • Turn off the air flow
• Do the procedure
• If the laser is turned on when it should not, the exam is failed