Outline for Safety Class. This class is a prerequisite for Building or any hardware work.

Hazards to humans

Here are some risks while working on computer hardware.

Cuts, scrapes, et cetera

There are many undressed edges inside computer cases. Electronic components often feature sharp pins. Tetanus and other blood-poisoning diseases are unlikely, but possible. Wear gloves whenever working inside a computer case.

Electric shock

Many computer parts feature capacitors as a component. Capacitors can hold a charge for a long time, even when the device has been unplugged for months or years. Smaller capacitors as found on mainboards or expansion cards are unlikely to hurt you, and won't hurt you if you wear insulated gloves. DO NOT OPEN POWER SUPPLY UNITS or CRTs. These contain large capacitors that can cause serious injury! There are no useful parts inside, and we can recycle them as a unit.

Respiratory hazard

Many, or even most, of the systems we open up will be full of dust. Be prepared for the occasional moldy spilled drink, mouse carcass, or discarded clothing ( koanhead has found each of these inside computers at least once.) The process of cleaning these old machines is bound to release all this nastiness. Wear a dust mask, you don't want that dust in your lungs. Wear eye protection, you don't want it in your eyes either.

Little flying bits

This shouldn't happen; working on computers takes only a gentle touch. Usually. However, you'll be working with beginners, and everyone makes mistakes. Occasionally little bits will come flying out of a workpiece. Wear your eye protection.

People

Can't live with 'em, can't get anything done without 'em. People make mistakes. Put a bunch of people together in a small space, and they make even more mistakes. Keep an eye out for your neighbors, help when they need help, interrupt if they are about to do something hazardous, and above all be kind. We're all learning, and none of us is perfect.

Hazards to machinery

Here are some bad things you can do to the machinery if you aren't careful. Frankly we don't care that much if you destroy a machine in Build, as long as you don't injure yourself or others. But the more machines survive Build, the more quickly grantees and volunteers get their computers.

Electrostatic discharge

Your body tends to build up a static charge. If you don't take care to short your charge to ground, then you can discharge into certain sensitive equipment. CPUs, RAM and HDDs are all particularly vulnerable. Keep these components in anti-static bags until time for use. Use your grounding strap, and learn how to ground yourself. Make a habit of periodically grounding out.

Skin oils

No matter how clean you are, your skin exudes oils that can damage certain sensitive components. The pins on a CPU and the edge connectors on RAM and expansion cards are examples. Take care in handling these things, hold them by their edges and don't touch the conductive parts.

Moisture

Don't get components wet. If they get wet, allow them to dry thoroughly before passing electricity through them.

Protection

Where to find protective gear

Safety equipment lives on the shelf on the east wall, in the southeast corner. There are gloves, eye protection and dust masks available. Please consider bringing your own gloves, you'll be able to get better ones than we can provide. Ditto for eye protection.

Right now we have only one grounding strap and no tacky pads. We're working on it.

Demonstration of best practices

I recommend that Safety Class instructors use a broken computer to demonstrate best practices with safety equipment and procedures. Point out:

Sharp edges
Catch points
Vulnerable areas
Good grounding areas; how to ground a case
What parts to avoid touching
How to hold sensitive parts