BY ORDER OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 48-139
30 SEPTEMBER 2014
Aerospace Medicine
LASER AND OPTICAL RADIATION
PROTECTION PROGRAM
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY
Publications and forms are available on the e-Publishing website at
www.e-publishing.af.mil for downloading and ordering.
There are no releasability restrictions on this publication,
OPR: HQ AFMSA/SG3PB
Supersedes: AFI48-139, 25 July 2012
Certified by: AF/SG3
(Brig Gen Charles E. Potter)
Pages: 33
This instruction incorporates guidance and criteria for the safe use of lasers and laser systems as
defined in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z136.1.
This instruction implements requirements from Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI)
6055.15, DoD Laser Protection Program, Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 48-1, Aerospace
Medicine Enterprise, the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) Standard, Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and specific requirements from
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Standard, Title 21, CFR, Part 1040.10, Laser
Products, and Part 1040.11, Specific Purpose Laser Products. The basic elements of the
program emulate those of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard Z136.1,
American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers and any other standard in the ANSI Z136
series, as applicable. This instruction applies to all Air Force (AF) personnel, AF Reserves, Air
National Guard, direct reporting units (DRU) and field operating agencies (FOA). Major
commands (MAJCOM), DRU, and FOA may supplement this instruction when additional or
more stringent safety and health criteria are required, but all direct supplements must be routed to
the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) of this publication for coordination prior to
certification and approval. This instruction does not apply to employees working under
government contract or private contractors performing work under government contracts, or
State employees with traditional Guard positions, who are covered under their organizational
standards. Contractors are responsible for compliance with Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) standards and the protection of their employees unless otherwise
specified in their contract. Send comments and suggested improvements on AF Form 847,
Certified Current, 22 APRIL 2020
