[hwillis]

>If you only had one pulse per second at 40 mW you would be looking at 30 mJ of energy per pulse

40 mW peak power, not average power. Average power somewhat less, maybe 20 mW.

>Also, sunlight is specified in intensity (power/area), and here we only have laser power, not laser spot size, so it is hard to make a fair comparison.

With sunlight and with a laser scanner, the entire body will be illuminated with that power, very roughly. If you stand directly in front of the laser scanner that 40 mW will fall over your entire body, and a similar fraction of the energy will go into your eyes as with sunlight.