Department of Labor issues notice of violation due to harmful UV lights in classrooms

On Mar. 30, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a notice of violation and order to comply to SUNY Geneseo due to the harmful ultra-violet (UV) lights that were previously used in several classrooms around campus. The College has since removed the UV lights in compliance with the order.

On Jan. 31, Assistant Vice President of Facilities and Planning Robert Ames sent an email to all Geneseo students addressing reports of eye and skin irritation in the classrooms using UV lights. 

In the email, Ames said, “We have had reports of individuals experiencing eye irritation with concerns that it was related to classroom UV lighting. In the interest of health and safety, we are sharing what we know. In late 2020, as one of many COVID-19 protocols, the College installed UV lights in some classrooms and other buildings throughout the campus. Additional lights were installed in recent weeks. The lights are commercial, CDC-approved, UL-listed units that undergo annual inspections. There are many types of UV lights; these models are approved for use when spaces are occupied.” 

While Ames claimed that the UV lights were approved for use in occupied spaces, there were several reports of eye irritation consistent with conjunctivitis, or irritation of the eye commonly caused by over exposure to UV light. The email said that the College had contacted the vendor, tested the lights in question, and determined that there were no harmful emissions.

“The reports of eye irritation were thought to be from a classroom in Welles. When the College learned of the reports, academic affairs temporarily removed the classroom from use. Facilities services temporarily turned off all UV light units across campus and contacted the vendor to perform a safety check in the specific room where the reports originated. The vendor completed monitored meter readings this morning in the classroom, which revealed no harmful energy was emitted from the unit. Facilities will continue to check all rooms that have these specific lights in them out of an abundance of caution,” Ames said.

According to the DOL, these inspections never took place, and the UV lights used in those classrooms were determined to be harmful to eyes and bare skin when overexposed.

The notice of violation said, “It is the responsibility of the installer to ensure that persons will not be exposed to excessive UV or optical radiation during equipment operation. This will require the installer to conduct an assessment of irradiance or illuminance levels in the surrounding occupied spaces before occupancy. The fixtures were assessed in 2020, but not in 2021 and 2022. UV radiation can pose a risk of personal injury. Over exposure can result in damage to eyes and bare skin.” 

This violation was labeled as “serious” by the DOL, which entails a $200 per day fine after the date by which the violation must be fixed. The College must address the violations by Apr. 25. 

In addition to the UV lights’ harmful emissions, several of the lights were also installed too low and upside down, leading to increased exposure to UV radiation. These violations were also labeled “serious.”

The notice said, “UVR GLO 310 ultraviolet light fixtures that were located in Welles Hall classrooms 115, 117, 119, and 128 had labels that required the installation height of 9 feet from the floor and a +2-degree angle. When measured, fixtures were not 9 feet from the floor.

“The installation instructions dated Apr. 2021 were not followed. The following rooms in Welles Hall had fixtures that were installed upside down: 133 back fixture, 216 back fixture, and 128 fixture.”

The notice of violation states that “a copy of this Notice must be posted immediately in a prominent place at or near the location of the violation(s) cited below.” As of Apr. 13, the posting is no longer up, and the College has not made a public statement on the issue since the Jan. 31 email.