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40 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, November 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 23, 2004 Schools say halide lights are safe By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Metal halide lights that burned and temporarily blinded teachers in Lake Oswego are common at schools around the Rogue Valley, but officials here say their lights are safe. Routine checks and staying alert to the dangers of damaged light fixtures can prevent the eye irritation and mild burns suffered by teachers at a Lake Oswego elementary school earlier this month, maintenance workers claim. There, a volleyball hit and damaged a light’s cover, so short-wave ultraviolet radiation could escape. "Nobody wants to see anybody get hurt, especially the people who work around those lights," said Ken Gruenwald, Eagle Point school district maintenance supervisor. The lights are common in gyms, multipurpose rooms, auditoriums and other big spaces with high ceilings. They’re also used outdoors, such as at Medford’s Spiegelberg Stadium. Advertisement A report prepared by the Rosslyn, Va.-based National Electrical Manufacturers Association in 2000 estimated that about 40 million metal halide light systems were installed in North America. Manufacturers of metal halide lights warn users about the potential for skin burns and eye irritation if the outer shields on the lights are damaged. Damaged metal halide light bulbs also can start fires, the manufacturers’ warnings say. "We were aware of this problem," Medford school’s facilities manager Sam Digati said. "I’m not sure how it got by them (Lake Oswego officials)." He said balls have broken lights at Medford schools, but prompt replacement has pre-empted health problems. "We rely on the head custodian (at each building) staying informed," he said. "They are pretty well in tune to that." After learning about the problem in Lake Oswego, the Eagle Point district sent an e-mail to all employees about the potential dangers, Gruenwald said. As the chairman of the district’s safety committee, he plans to meet with principals and ask them to remind teachers to pay close attention to possible light damage and call maintenance if a fixture takes a hit. Gruenwald inspected all the district’s metal halide lights and found no problems. Crater High School is the only Central Point school with metal halide lights, said the district’s director of business services, Vicki Robinson. The lights sport metal safety cages to protect them from errant balls, and maintenance workers promptly replace any broken lights, she said. The district also inspects all fixtures at least once a year. Phoenix-Talent School District Superintendent Ben Bergreen said the district planned to discuss the lights at its regular weekly maintenance meeting today. Ashland School District didn’t return a call about the lights Monday. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities