Safety and maintenance

Unit objectives: Examine safety issues and hazards in

the computer environment Identify preventative maintenance

tasks for personal computers Identify ways to avoid injury and strain

when working with computers Examine proper methods for disposing

of computer equipment

Topic A

Topic A: Safety and hazards Topic B: Computer maintenance Topic C: Safe work practices Topic D: Disposing of computer

equipment

Office hazards: floor surfaces

Floors should be level and dry Carpets should be secured to the floor Cables and power cords should not

cross walkways Use antistatic mats to protect

equipment from static electricity

Office hazards: fire safety

Keep papers orderly – In metal file cabinet when possible

Keep combustibles away from coffee pots, hot plates, personal heaters

Keep working smoke detectors in all areas of building

Keep fire extinguishers readily available for each type of equipment you have

Fire extinguisher classes

Extinguishers list appropriate uses– Newer ones use a picture– Older ones use color-coded shapes

Four classes– A: Ordinary combustibles – B: Flammable liquids – C: Electrical equipment – D: Flammable metals

Fire extinguisher types

Dry chemicals Halon Water CO2

Office hazards: electrical safety

Don’t overload electrical circuits Label breakers in electrical box Use surge protectors and UPS Don’t string together power strips Don’t run electrical cords or network

cables across walkways Encase cords in a cord protector Provide good ventilation for equipment Secure cords out of the way

– Can use cable ties, but don’t cinch tightly

Office hazards: air quality

Use fans to keep air as clear as possible

Don’t smoke around computers Clean computer

fans periodically Place working

carbon monoxide detectors around building

Computer hazards

Physical Electrical

Physical hazards

Use care when lifting and moving heavy or bulky equipment

When lifting, take a balanced stance Lift with leg muscles, not arms and back Keep back straight Grip with entire hand Bring equipment close to your body Keep the CRT screen towards body Make sure you can see where you’re going Restrain neckties, loose clothing, jewelry,

and long haircontinued

Physical hazards, continued

Heat:– Laptop burns– Internal components

Electrical hazards Use care when working with any electrical

equipment– Turn it off and unplug it, unless you don’t have

an ESD strap Inspect equipment wiring for defects Don’t use damaged or frayed electrical

cords Remove metal jewelry, watches, and rings

before working on equipment Do not allow any liquid near equipment Identify electrical ratings of equipment DON’T OPEN CRT unless specially trained

Laser printer and copier toner

Toner– Mixture of plastic resin, iron powder, and

carbon black– Particles are 10 microns or smaller– Can irritate respiratory tract – Can cause allergic skin reaction

Use facemask and gloves Clean up spills with special vacuum Recycle cartridges Replaceable ozone filters

Incident reporting

Company should have written policy– Handling accidents– Reporting incidents

Proper documentation required for OSHA, workmen’s comp claims, and insurance

Activity A-1

Identifying typical office and computer-related hazards

High-voltage interference: outside

Lightning Atmospheric conditions that produce

lightning Wind Radio stations Citizens band (CB) radios Police radios

High-voltage interference: inside

Differences in electrical potential – In various parts of the building – Between objects in the building

Currents flow for short periods of time Disrupts low-voltage network data flow Electromagnetic fields around equipment Imperfectly wired electrical connections Appliances and fluorescent lights Object movements

Electrostatic discharge (ESD)

Buildup of electrical charge on surface of object– Typically rubber, plastic, glass, other items that

aren’t good conductors Buildup remains until bleed off to ground or

static discharge When objects touch, brief and sudden electrical

current flows between them To feel discharge: 3000 volts or more To see spark: 8000 volts or more ESD of a few hundred volts can damage

electronics and destroy data CRTs and TVs produce static charges

Electromagnetic interference (EMI)

Produced by fluorescent lights Ballast creates electromagnetic field

around transformer– Causes phosphorus in bulb to glow

Can produce similar current in nearby objects

Don’t run network cables near fluorescent lights

Minimizing high-voltage interference

Level of interference depends on– Climatic conditions in the area – Proximity to radio stations, power lines,

industrial plants – Construction of building

Defenses against interference– Maintenance– Installing ground wires– Using antistatic devices

Shielding and filtering

Shielding – Applies primarily to a network’s cables – Is a refined form of grounding – Used in STP cable

Filters – Electronic devices that permit the normal

function of a device while blocking or suppressing other signals

– Can place on source or recipient of interference– AC power-line filters, RFI filters, network filters

Activity A-2

Finding sources of static electricity and interference

Topic B

Topic A: Safety and hazards Topic B: Computer maintenance Topic C: Safe work practices Topic D: Disposing of computer

equipment

Ventilation, dust, and moisture control

Keep fan openings and ventilation holes clear

Clean with compressed air, computer vacuum, or air compressor

Humidity level at 50% Clean printers regularly Rubbing alcohol cleans ink smudges

Printer/scanner maintenance

Vendor publishes recommended schedule and list of tasks

Usually based on printing volume Ensure suitable operating environment

Activity B-1

Discussing preventative maintenance

Cleaning computer equipment

Wear latex or other synthetic gloves Liquid cleaning compounds

– Dampen, don’t soak cloth

Cleaning contacts and connections Non-static vacuums Cleaning monitors, keyboards, mice

Activity B-2

Cleaning computer equipment

MSDS

Physical data Toxicity Health effects First aid Reactivity Storage Disposal Protective equipment Spill and leakage procedures

MSDS hazard ratings

Rating Description

None No potential hazard in this category

0 The least hazard

1 A slight hazard

2 A moderate hazard

3 Highly hazardous

4 Extremely hazardous

Personal protection by rating

Rating Description

A Wear goggles when using this product

B Wear goggles and gloves when using this product

C Wear goggles, gloves, and other protective gear when using this product

Activity B-3

Reading a material safety data sheet

Topic C

Topic A: Safety and hazards Topic B: Computer maintenance Topic C: Safe work practices Topic D: Disposing of computer

equipment

Ergonomic workstations

Check position of: Chair Monitor Keyboard Mouse Document holders Office equipment

– Phones – Other equipment

Laptop safety

Weight Ergonomic issues Heat

Activity C-1

Avoiding injury and strain when working with PCs

Topic D

Topic A: Safety and hazards Topic B: Computer maintenance Topic C: Safe work practices Topic D: Disposing of computer

equipment

Computer equipment disposal

Disposing of electronics– Hazardous materials

Disposing of used toner and ink cartridges

Disposing of computer equipment– Reusing equipment– Methods of disposal

Activity D-1

Selecting the proper methods for computer equipment disposal

Unit summary

Examined safety issues and hazards in the computer environment

Identified preventative maintenance tasks for personal computers

Identified ways to avoid injury and strain when working with computers

Examined proper methods for disposing of computer equipment