Safety precaution in handling computer parts

This section discusses safety in the lab. Safety guidelines help protect individuals from accidents and
injury. They also help to protect equipment from damage. Some of these guidelines are designed to
protect the environment from contamination caused by improperly discarded materials.

General Safety

Safe working condition help prevents injury to people and damage to computer equipment. A safe
workspace is clean, organized, and properly lighted. Everyone must understand and follow safety
procedures.

This is a partial list of basic safety precautions to use when working in a computer:

* Remove your watch and jewelry and secure loose clothing.

* Turn off the power and unplug equipment before performing service.

* Cover sharp edges inside the computer case with tape.

* Never open a power supply or a CRT monitor.

* Do not touch areas in printers that are hot or that use high voltage.

*Know where the fire extinguisher is located and how to use it.

* Keep food and drinks out of your workspace.

* Keep your workspace clean and free of clutter.

* Bend your knees when lifting heavy objects to avoid injuring your back.

Fire Safety Guidelines

Follow fire safety guidelines to protect lives, structures, and equipment. To avoid an electrical shock and
prevent damage to the computer , turn off and unplug the computer before beginning a repair.

* Never fight a fire that is out f control or not contained.

* Always have a planned fire escape route before beginning any work.

* Get out of the building quickly.

* Contact emergency services for help.

* Locate and read the instructions on a fire extinguishers in your workplace before you have to use
them.

Backups

The most important precaution against any risk of data loss is a full, up to date backup. Tape backup
drives are the wisest form of insurance for your computer , and good tape drives are very inexpensive
($150.00 or less). This will protect you against lightning, fire, theft, accidental data loss, virus, damage,
hardware “crashes”, etc.
Telephone Line Danger

One potential threat to your computer which most often goes unnoticed is your modern connection.
Surges and power fluctuations can hit your system through your phone line and cause serious damage.
Make sure your power strip or battery backup has telephone line protection.

Battery Backups

A single power outage is not as damaging to your computer as the extreme surges and drops in power
that occur during a blackout, brownout or jus your ordinary lighting storm. Your computer is very
sensitive to power fluctuations - protect yourself against this.

Turn Off Your Computer

Monsoon season is the exception to the rule. Whenever a storm or brownout is expected, your safest
strategy is to turn off all computers and monitors. These precautions can save you a great deal of
frustration and loss.

A few warnings and reminders before you start disassembling your computer tower to keep both your
unit and yourself safe:

1. Fully shut down and unplug the computer before you make any attempts to disassemble the
tower.
2. Take off any metal objects on your arms or fingers such as bracelets rings or watches. Even if
your unit is unplugged, there may still be some remaining electric charge.
3. Make sure your hands are completely dry to avoid damaging any mechanical parts as well as to
avoid electrocution.
4. Work in a cool area to avoid perspiration for the same reason as seen in the previous number.
5. Before touching any part within the tower, put your hands against another metal surface (such
as the computer casing) to remove static charge, which may damage sensitive devices.
6. Prepare a place to keep any screws you may remove. A container or piece of paper with labels
for each part (casing, motherboard, CD drive, etc) is ideal to avoid confusion between the
similar-looking screws
7. Handle all parts with care. Place each piece you remove carefully down onto a stable surface
8. If a component does not come out easily, do not forcefully remove it. Instead, check that you
are removing it correctly and that no wires or other parts are in the way.
9. Be careful when holding the motherboard, its underside actually quite pointy and able to hurt
you.
10. Never attempt to remove the power source, a box attached to the side or bottom of the unit to
which all cables are connected.
11. When removing any cables, wires or ribbons, make sure to grasp the wire at the base or head to
keep it breaking.
12. 12. Be careful not to drop any small parts (particularly screws) into unreachable areas such as
into the computer fan or disk drive
13. 13. Take note that the three of the most damaging things to a computer are moisture (sweat,
drinking water), shock (electric or from being dropped) and dust ( any debris from household
dust to bits of food).
 Activity 1. Complete Me

Direction: Complete the sentences by supplying the correct word/words.

1. Do not touch areas in _____________that are hot or that use high voltage.
2. Be careful not to drop any________________ (particularly screws) into unreachable areas such
as into the computer fan or disk drive.
3. When removing any cables, wires or ribbons, make sure to _________________at the base or
head to keep it breaking.
4. If a component does not come out easily, do not _______________ it. Instead, check that you
are removing it correctly and that no wires or other parts are in the way.
5. Make sure your power strip or _________________has telephone line protection.
6. Bend your knees when lifting________________ to avoid injuring your back.
7. Handle all parts with care. Place each piece you remove _____________onto a stable surface.
8. Locate and read the __________________ on a fire extinguishers in your workplace before you
have to use them.
9. Take off any metal objects on your arms or fingers such as ______________.Even if your unit is
unplugged, there may still be some remaining electric charge.
10. A _________________is not as damaging to your computer as the extreme surges and drops in
power that occur during a blackout, brownout or jus your ordinary lighting storm.
11. Never open a power supply or a ____________.
12. Be careful when holding the motherboard, its underside actually ____________and able to hurt
you.

Activity 2. Explain Me

Direction: Explain the following questions with your own understanding.

1. Anna instructed by her teacher to perform a troubleshooting on computers because this is a

part of their performance task in their computer subject. Anna is very excited to perform the
activity because this is the first time that she will experience how to troubleshoot computer so
she did not listen very well while their teacher discuss about the safety precaution in handling
computer parts. A few minutes, Anna is doing the activity…and she got an accident while
performing the activity. As a student, what are you going to do in case that yow will experience
an accident? What safety precautions did Anna should apply?
2. In performing activity in computers, why do we need to know first what are the safety
guidelines when working with computer?
3. When working with computers, why do we need to cover all sharp edges inside the computers
with tape?
4. Why do we need to unplug first the computer before you make any attempts to disassemble?