Safety Issues
Electrocution
- ICT devices require electrical power to charge or run
- The electrical device can cause electrocution
- Electrocution is caused by the electric current moving through your body, it can cause severe injury or death
Electrocution causes and prevention strategies
|
|
|
|
Spilling drinks near electrical equipment |
Keep liquids away from electrical equipment |
|
Touching live cables |
Ensure that cables are properly insulated and protected Use non-conductive materials where possible Ensure that electrical equipment is turned off and unplugged before cleaning or maintenance Use circuit breakers or fuses to prevent electrical overload |
Fire:
- ICT devices require electricity to charge or run
- Too many devices using a single socket can cause the plug socket to overload
- Heat is generated by too much electricity, causing the wiring to degrade and ignite a fire
Fire causes and prevention strategies
|
|
|
|
Sockets being overloaded |
Use surge protectors to prevent electrical overload Ensure enough plug sockets in the room Don’t plug too many devices into the same plug socket Don’t leave devices plugged in and unattended |
|
Equipment overheating |
Ensure that equipment is properly ventilated and not obstructed Keep flammable materials away from heat sources Regularly check equipment for signs of wear or damage Use fire extinguishers in case of emergencies Turn off or unplug devices when away from the location Do not cover any air vents on devices |
Tripping over trailing cables:
- Devices can be plugged in using cables, cables that are protruding can cause an accident
- You can trip over a cable left out in a location
- Body damage can occur during a fall, for example, breaking bones, ligament damage, bruising, sprains etc depending on the area fell on
Tripping over trailing cables causes and prevention strategies
|
|
|
|
Cables not properly secured or organised |
Use cable ties or clips to secure cables Keep cables away from areas where people are walking Secure cables where you can, like under desks to stop protruding into open areas Use cable covers to protect cables and prevent tripping hazards Regularly inspect cables for signs of wear or damage Where possible use wireless devices to reduce cables |
Heavy equipment falling and injuring people:
- Devices have varying levels of weight and if a device falls on you it could cause injury
- Any device should be placed in a secure location, like a PC on a strong desk and not near the edge
Heavy equipment falling and injuring people causes and prevention strategies
|
|
|
|
Improperly secured equipment |
Ensure that equipment is properly secured and stable Regularly check the stability of locations containing devices |
|
Equipment not placed on stable surfaces |
Keep equipment away from edges and other potential hazards Regularly inspect equipment and locations containing devices for signs of wear or damage |
Worked example
Using computers can lead to several physical safety issues.
Describe four of these types of issues.
[4]
Electrocution, caused by touching bare wires / allowing food and drink to spill liquids onto computers [1]
Falling objects can cause injury [1]
Tripping over loose cables can cause injury [1]
The fire is caused by overloading power sockets / overheating computers [1]
