Abstract: A solid-state laser is proposed with an emission wavelength of greater than 1.4 .mu.m to eliminate the risk of damage to human skin and eyes. The proposed laser comprises: an active medium alloyed with Er.sup.3+ ions; an optical pumping source separated from the active medium by an additional filtering layer in the form of optical elements, and/or coating applied thereto, and/or a liquid medium, which intercept and eliminate ultraviolet radiation and are transparent to light in the excitation wavelength of the active medium. The cumulative internal transmission density of the filtering layer along the path of a given beam in the laser from the pumping source to the active medium, including the path in the casing of the pumping source, must be greater than 2 in the wavelength range below 320 nm and not more than 0.1 in the excitation spectrum of the active medium with wavelengths greater than 360 nm. Filtration in the laser is accomplished with the aid of, for example, a 0.3-1.5 .mu.