Which safety measure is essential when working with lasers?

Wearing safety goggles is essential when working with lasers because lasers emit high-intensity light that can cause serious eye injuries. Safety goggles are specifically designed to protect the eyes from various wavelengths of laser light, ensuring that the energy is absorbed or reflected away from the eyes. This protective gear significantly reduces the risk of permanent damage, such as retinal burns or other vision impairments. In laser work, personal protective equipment is a fundamental safety measure to safeguard against the inherent hazards associated with exposure to laser radiation.

While the other safety measures, such as using non-reflective surfaces, keeping a clean workspace, and performing regular maintenance on equipment, contribute to an overall safer working environment, they do not provide the direct eye protection that safety goggles do. Therefore, their importance is secondary to the immediate and critical necessity of protecting one’s vision when using lasers.