What should a technician do before working on a computer?

Remove any watch and jewelry.
Check the surrounding area for trip hazards.
Ensure that the computer is free of viruses.
Remove all cables except the power cable.

The correct answer is: Remove any watch and jewelry.

Before working on a computer, a technician should remove any watch and jewelry to prevent the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD), electrical shock, or short circuits. Metal objects like watches, bracelets, and rings can conduct electricity, potentially causing damage to sensitive computer components or injuring the technician.

Let’s explore why removing watches and jewelry is the correct safety step, how this compares to the other options, and the importance of precautions when working with computers.

1. Remove Any Watch and Jewelry: The Key Safety Measure

When working on the internal components of a computer, ESD and electrical shorts are major risks. Metal jewelry, such as rings, bracelets, and watches, can cause inadvertent electrical contact between components, leading to short circuits, damage, or even personal injury.

Why Removing Watches and Jewelry is Important:

Prevents Short Circuits: Metal objects can accidentally come into contact with exposed circuits or components, causing an electrical short. Even a small metal object like a ring can bridge connections and damage the computer’s motherboard or other internal parts.
Reduces Risk of Electrical Shock: Although the power should always be disconnected when working on a computer, if it is not, or if residual power remains in certain components like capacitors, there is a risk of electrical shock if metal jewelry touches a charged component.
Minimizes ESD Risks: Electrostatic discharge occurs when a static charge built up on a person’s body or clothing transfers to sensitive electronic components. ESD can cause damage to delicate parts, such as the CPU or memory. Jewelry and watches can increase this risk by creating additional points of contact.

How to Safely Prepare for Computer Maintenance:

Remove Jewelry: Before opening up a computer case, the technician should remove all metal jewelry, including watches, rings, bracelets, and necklaces, to avoid electrical shorts or ESD.
Discharge Static: The technician should touch an antistatic mat or wear an antistatic wrist strap to discharge any static electricity before handling sensitive components.
Unplug the Computer: Always unplug the computer from the power source to ensure that there is no live current flowing through the system.

Removing watches and jewelry is one of the basic and most important safety steps in protecting both the technician and the computer from harm during repair or maintenance.

2. Why the Other Options Are Less Relevant

Check the Surrounding Area for Trip Hazards (Incorrect)

While it’s always a good idea to ensure the work area is safe and free of hazards, such as loose cables or objects on the floor that could cause a trip, this is not the most critical safety step before working on the internal components of a computer. Checking for trip hazards is more of a general safety precaution rather than a specific step related to computer maintenance.

Why This Isn’t the Best Answer:

General Safety Measure: Checking for trip hazards is important in any work environment, but it does not directly relate to protecting the computer or the technician from electrical risks. Removing jewelry to avoid electrical hazards is a more relevant and immediate concern when working inside a computer.

Ensure That the Computer Is Free of Viruses (Incorrect)

Ensuring that the computer is free of viruses is a good software maintenance step, but it is not a physical safety precaution. Before working on hardware, the technician’s primary concern should be physical risks, such as ESD, electrical shock, and damage to components.

Why This Isn’t the Best Answer:

Focus on Hardware Safety: The technician should prioritize physical safety measures, such as preventing ESD and electrical shorts, before dealing with software issues like viruses. While virus protection is important for the health of the computer, it is not a critical step before physically working on the system.

Remove All Cables Except the Power Cable (Incorrect)

This is not a recommended practice. In fact, the power cable should always be disconnected before working on the internal components of a computer. Leaving the power cable connected increases the risk of electrical shock and damage to the computer if any of its components are powered on or charged.

Why This Is Incorrect:

Power Off the Computer: Before opening the case and working on the hardware, the technician should completely disconnect the computer from any power source, including the power cable, to ensure there is no live current. Leaving the power cable plugged in is dangerous.
Proper Procedure: All peripheral and power cables should be disconnected before working on the computer to minimize the risk of accidental electric shock.

3. Importance of Proper Safety Precautions When Working on Computers

When working on a computer’s internal components, the technician must prioritize safety measures that protect both the hardware and themselves from harm. Static electricity, electrical shorts, and accidental contact with live circuits can all cause significant damage to sensitive electronic components or pose a safety risk to the technician.

Key Safety Tips:

Power Off and Unplug: Always power down the computer and unplug it from the power source before opening the case or touching any internal components.
Use Antistatic Protection: Wear an ESD wrist strap or work on an antistatic mat to discharge static electricity and prevent damage to components like RAM, CPUs, or motherboards.
Handle Components Carefully: Avoid touching the metal contacts or pins of computer parts like memory sticks or CPUs to prevent transferring oils or static electricity.
Keep Workspace Organized: Ensure that the workbench or area is clean, organized, and free of potential hazards that could cause accidents or damage to the computer.

By following these safety precautions, the technician can reduce the risk of injury and protect the computer from unnecessary damage.

Conclusion

The correct safety step before working on a computer is to remove any watch and jewelry. This precaution helps to avoid electrical shorts, electrostatic discharge, and the risk of electrical shock. While other steps like checking for trip hazards and ensuring the computer is virus-free are important in general, they do not address the immediate safety concerns related to working on hardware. Proper safety practices, including removing metal objects, powering off the system, and using antistatic precautions, are essential to ensuring a safe and effective computer maintenance process.