Laser welding
Are laser welders legal in Australia?
Quick answer
Yes — handheld laser welders are legal to buy, own and use in Australia. They are Class 4 laser products, so suppliers must import them compliantly, and workplaces must manage the radiation risk under work health and safety law: rated eyewear, controlled areas and training. There is no personal 'licence', but there are legal duties.
What the law actually requires
Handheld welding lasers are Class 4 (the highest hazard class) under the AS/NZS IEC 60825 laser safety series. Sale and use are legal, but a business putting one on the shop floor must treat it like any serious plant hazard: a risk assessment, laser safety officer planning, interlocked or controlled work areas, and eyewear rated for the machine's exact wavelength — typically 1064–1080 nm for fiber lasers.
The equipment mistake that actually hurts people
Standard auto-darkening welding helmets do not block fiber-laser wavelengths. Laser-rated goggles or helmet inserts matched to the wavelength and power are mandatory for the operator and anyone with line of sight to the reflection zone. Suppliers of serious units in Australia bundle or sell rated protection — treat a listing without any mention of rated eyewear as a red flag about the importer.
Buying legal-and-safe
- Buy from an Australian supplier with an ABN, local service and written safety documentation
- Confirm laser safety eyewear is rated for the exact wavelength (ask for the OD rating)
- Establish a controlled welding zone with screens — diffuse reflections are also hazardous
- Train every user; keep an operating procedure on file if this is a workplace