Chapter 2: Safe
Lab Procedures
and Tool Use
IT Essentials 5.0
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© 2008 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Chapter 2 Objectives
 2.1 Explain the purpose of
safe working conditions and
safe lab procedures
 2.2 Identify tools and
software used with personal
computer components and
their purposes
 2.2 Demonstrate proper tool
use
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Safe Lab Procedures
The workplace should have safety guidelines to:
 Protect people from injury.
 Protect equipment from damage.
 Protect the environment from contamination.
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In order to best prevent injury, follow these simple rules at all
times:
•Follow all national, industry, and workplace safety rules.
•Training is essential when working with electricity, power tools, or any other
potentially hazardous equipment.
•Use safety equipment.
•Lift with the legs, not the back. Many back injuries are caused by people bending
over to lift a heavy object.
•The work place is never the place for drugs or alcohol.
•Always act professionally. Clowning around or playing practical jokes can result in
injury.
•Stay current on issues related to safety and health in the workplace.
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Characteristics of a Safe Workplace
 Clean, organized, and properly lit (light) workspace
 Proper procedures for handling equipment
 Proper disposal or recycling of components
containing hazardous materials
 Safety guidelines
•Most companies require reporting any injuries,
including description of safety procedures not
followed.
•Damage to equipment may result in claims for
damages from the customer.
•Types of safety guidelines: General, Electrical, Fire
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Partial list of basic safety precautions to use when
working on a computer
•Remove your watch and jewelry.
•Turn off the power and unplug equipment before performing service.
•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 and the first-aid kit 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.
•Cables should be installed in conduit (cable trays) to prevent hazards to users.
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Types of Interference
 Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
•Buildup of an electric charge resting on a surface
•30 volts of static electricity can damage a computer
component.
 Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
•Intrusion of outside electromagnetic signals in a
transmission media, such as copper cabling
•Sources can be: Man-made, natural events,
climate or any source designed to generate
electromagnetic energy.
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Many sources of EMI
 Any source designed to generate electromagnetic energy (power lines or
motors)
 Natural events such as electrical storms
 Wireless networks are affected by Radio Frequency Interference (RFI).
 Microwaves can also cause interference when positioned in close proximity
to wireless networking devices.



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Climate affects computer equipment in a variety of ways:
If the environment temperature is too high, equipment can overheat.
If the humidity level is too low, the chance of ESD increases.
If the humidity level is too high, equipment can suffer from moisture damage
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Types of Interference (cont)
 Power Fluctuation (unsteady voltage)
•Voltage in a computer that is not accurate or steady
• can cause data loss or hardware failure, types of PF:
• Blackout - Complete loss of AC power
• Brownout - Reduced voltage level of AC power that lasts for a period of time
• Noise - Electrical interference from generators and lightning
• Spike - Sudden increase in voltage that lasts for a very short period and
exceeds 100% of the normal voltage on a line
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Power Protection Devices
Power Protection Devices
•Surge suppressor
•Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
•Standby Power Supply (SPS)
•A surge suppressor: helps protect against damage from
surges and spikes.
•UPS: protect against electrical power problems by supplying
electrical power to a computer or other device. (from
Blackout)
•SPS: protect against electrical power problems by providing
a backup battery to supply power when the incoming voltage
drops below the normal level (from Brownout and Blackout)
•CAUTION: Never plug a printer into a UPS device. UPS manufacturers suggest not
plugging a printer into a UPS for fear of burning up the printer motor.
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Procedures to Protect the Environment
 Computers and peripherals contain materials that
can be harmful to the environment.
 Protect the environment by responsibly disposing and
recycling:
• Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS): Fact sheet summarizing
information about material identification, including hazardous
ingredients that can affect personal health, fire hazards, and
first aid requirements.
• Proper Disposal: Comply with policies that specify the
procedures for disposing different materials such as batteries,
monitors and used printer kits.
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Equipment Disposal
•Batteries from portable may contain lead, cadmium, lithium, alkaline
manganese, and mercury.
•Monitors contain up to 4 pounds of lead, as well as rare earth metals.
Monitors must be disposed of in compliance with environmental regulations.
•Used printer toner kits and printer cartridges must be disposed properly or
recycled.
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Specialized Tools
Skilled use of tools and software makes the
job less difficult and ensures that tasks
are performed properly and safely.
 Hardware Tools
•ESD Tools (use antistatic wrist strap and antistatic mat)
•Hand Tools (screwdrivers, wire cutters, and flashlight)
•Cleaning Tools (soft cloth, compressed air can, cable ties)
•Diagnostic Tools (digital multimeter)
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Software Tools
Disk Management Tools
 FDISK (used to create and delete
partitions on a hard drive)
Protection Software Tools
 Format
• Windows Security Center
 Scandisk or CHKDSK (used to check
• Antivirus program
the integrity of files and folders on a hard
drive by scanning the disk surface for
physical errors )
 Defrag (used to optimize space on a
hard drive to allow faster access to
programs and data )
 Disk Cleanup (used to clear space on
a hard drive by searching for files that can
be safely deleted
 Disk Management
 System File Checker (SFC)
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• Antispyware program
• Windows Firewall program
Organizational Tools
• Notes
• Journal
• History of repairs
• Internet Reference
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Proper Tool Use
 Safety in the workplace is everyone's responsibility.
• Proper use of an antistatic wrist strap can prevent ESD
damage to computer components.
CAUTION: Never wear an antistatic wrist strap if you are
repairing a monitor or CRT.
• Proper use of an antistatic mat transfers static electricity
away from equipment to a grounding point.
• Proper use of hand tools.
• Proper Use of Cleaning Materials.
CAUTION: Before cleaning any device, turn it off and
unplug the device from the power source.
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Chapter 2 Summary
 Work in a safe manner to protect both users
and equipment.
 Follow all safety guidelines to prevent injuries
to yourself and to others.
 Know how to protect equipment from ESD
damage.
 Know about, and be able to prevent, power
issues that can cause equipment damage or
data loss.
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Chapter 2 Summary
 Know which products and supplies require
special disposal procedures.
 Be familiar with MSDS sheets for both safety
issues and disposal restrictions to help protect
the environment.
 Be able to use the correct tools for the task.
 Know how to clean components safely.
 Use organizational tools during computer
repairs.
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