SCHOOLS may also have missed the news coverage of an important safety announcement made by RM, the computer manufacturers, in August.
RM has discovered that, in some circumstances, compact discs inside a computer disc drive can shatter with potentially dangerous consequences.
The problem lies with faulty discs being run in very high-speed disc drives. An RM spokesman said that some discs were unable to stand up to the forces created when drives spin at anything up to 10,500 rpm.
Discs with a crack in the central plastic core are liable to shatter. Teachers should inspect discs before using them as injuries to computer-users are possible.
Since July the company has installed a drive that can detect a cracked disc and either reject it or play it at a slower, safer speed. More information can be found on the RM website.
www.rm.comsafety
