2.1.8 Practice Questions Protection and Safety

To prevent ESD when replacing internal computer components, you attach an anti-static wrist strap to your wrist. Where should the other end the fastened?

Anti-static mat. Metal area on the computer case. Explanation When using an anti-static wrist strap, you should connect the wrist strap to yourself and the other end to a ground such as the clip on the anti-static mat, or to an area on the computer case so that you and the computer are at the same electrical potential. Never connect the wrist strap to a power outlet, power supply, or ground on a power source.

Which of the following protects a computer system from electrostatic discharge?

Anti-static wrist strap Explanation An anti-static wrist strap prevents an electrostatic discharge between the service technician and the computer components. Static shielding bags can be used to protect individual components from ESD, but are not typically used to protect the entire computer system. A POST card is a plug-in expansion card that displays progress and error codes generated during power-on self-test. A power supply tester is a custom multimeter that is used for testing output from a PC power supply.

What is your top priority when responding to emergencies and hazardous situations?

Ensure the safety of people in the area. Explanation Your top priority in responding to events is to protect the safety of individuals. Do this before taking any other actions to protect data or the environment.

What is the purpose of an MSDS?

It documents how to safely handle and dispose of hazardous materials. Explanation A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) documents how to safely handle and dispose of hazardous materials.

Of the following choices, which action could be most physically harmful to you?

Looking into the end of a fiber optic cable. Explanation Never look into a fiber optic cable or any other possible source of laser light.. Laser light can damage your eyes and even cause blindness. When working on a computer, you should use a grounding strap to protect the component from ESD damage. Using a computer without a surge protector could lead to computer damage, but doesn't have any effect on your personal safety. Ejecting an optical disc with a paperclip is an acceptable way to remove a disc if the drive door won't open.

Which of the following components requires special disposal procedures to comply with environmental guidelines?

Notebook battery Explanation Ni-Cad, NiMH, and other notebook battery types can contain regulated materials. Read the battery's documentation for a description of correct disposal procedures. Incorrect disposal can result in serious fines. While using special recycling services when disposing of computer components is environmentally friendly, most locations do not have laws regarding the disposal of most common components.

Which of the following are safety benefits associated with encasing cables that run across the floor?

Prevents wear Reduces tripping accidents Explanation If a cable must run across the floor, encase the cable to prevent wear and secure the cable in place to reduce tripping accidents. Aesthetic improvements are not safety benefits. Individuals could still tamper with the network cables regardless of the encasing. Likewise, encasing cables does not prevent eavesdropping.

Which of the following should be handled with caution due to high operating temperatures?

Printing head in a dot matrix printer. Components within a laser printer. Explanation Components such as the printing head of a dot matrix printer or components inside a laser printer can be hot, and should be handled with caution. You should allow components to cool sufficiently before servicing to prevent burns. Typically, other components such as RAM and external hard disk drives do not operate at a high enough temperature to cause injury. The same is true of the tractor feed mechanism in an inkjet printer.

Which of the following devices are most susceptible to problems associated with ESD?

Processor Memory Explanation Processors and memory are most susceptible to damage caused by Electrostatic Discharge (ESD). The small size and small power requirements of these components means that the charges associated with ESD can easily damage the circuitry. CRT monitors are susceptible to damage caused by magnetic fields, but LCD/LED monitors are not susceptible to magnetic fields or to ESD. Cat 5 cables are susceptible to EMi (interference caused by electrical signals). Fiber optic cables are immune from EMI. A PC case itself has no components that can be damaged by ESD; however, it can transmit ESD to components mounted within the case.

What does occasional beeping from the UPS mean?

The computer is running on the UPS battery power. Explanation Most UPS manufacturers indicate AC power outages and internal battery use with occasional beeping, usually about 4 beeps every 30 seconds. Some UPS units have a switch that you can use to disable the warning signal when running on battery power. Other types of beeps, such as rapid chirping or beeps at more frequent intervals, indicate other UPS problems. A failed connection between the UPS and the computer or a low battery on the UPS would most likely provide a visual notification on the computer screen from the UPS monitoring software, not an audible beep.