Safety Tips for Working on Your Computer

By The Husband and Wife Law Team on December 17, 2012

Sometimes when things go awry with technology in your home, you don’t want to spend the time to take your computer out to a repair shop or wait for a repairman to come to your home to provide service. With all of the self help guides and step-by-step do it yourself videos out on the internet today, you don’t even need a repairman, right? However, before you pull out your five-dollar grocery store toolkit and crack into your computer or other electronic devices, take a moment to think about safety. That’s right. There’s more danger than just permanently damaging your device when it comes to doing home repairs, so keep in mind the following safety tips:

• Use the right tools. There are special tools created for your laptop, computer, and other mobile devices. These tools are important to help ensure that you don’t shock yourself or your computer while you’re working.
• Make sure you unplug your devices before you start working on them. Never work on a television, computer, or other technological device while it is plugged into the wall. This can pose a serious electrical shock hazard, a fire hazard, or even a small device explosion risk.
• If your device is battery powered, take the battery out before you start working. Batteries can explode if you hit them just the right way and as long as the battery is in the device, it is still providing a charge and can pose a serious hazard.
• Watch out for the cords and plugs that you have recently unplugged. Cords, especially long ones, can pose a serious trip and fall hazard. And if your object is heavy it could cause additional serious injuries on the way down, especially if it hits you as you fall.
• Keep your computers and other technological devices away from water and never bring drinks near your work area. While you are working on your devices, keep all liquids away in order to reduce your risk of electric shock.

Saving a few bucks on electronic repair may be tempting, but before you put yourself and your devices in danger, consider all of the implications and possible hazards so you can make an educated decision.