Safety Procedures and Compliance practice questions

Place them in the regular dumpster for bulk trash pickup.

Why wrong: CRTs contain hazardous materials like lead, making them illegal to dispose of in standard trash in most areas.

Smash the glass and separate the components for metal recycling.

Why wrong: Breaking CRTs can release toxic dust and is dangerous; proper disposal requires professional handling.

Donate them to a local school for reuse.

Why wrong: Donation is not disposal; the technician is responsible for ensuring the items are properly recycled or disposed of, not passed on as working units.

Replace the power strip with a higher-rated one and reset the breaker.

Why wrong: A higher-rated power strip does not increase the capacity of the circuit; the breaker will still trip if the total load exceeds the circuit rating.

Reset the breaker and use a UPS with a higher wattage rating.

Why wrong: A UPS does not prevent a circuit overload; it only provides backup power. The breaker will still trip if the circuit is overloaded.

Install a larger circuit breaker in the panel to handle the load.

Why wrong: Replacing a breaker with a larger one without upgrading the wiring is a fire hazard and violates electrical code.

Use a standard household vacuum cleaner to quickly remove the toner.

Why wrong: Standard vacuums can blow toner particles into the air, creating a breathing hazard and making the mess worse.

Wipe up the toner with a dry paper towel and dispose of it in the trash.

Why wrong: Dry wiping can spread the fine powder and cause it to become airborne, increasing inhalation risk.

Pour water on the spill to dissolve the toner, then mop it up.

Why wrong: Toner is a plastic-based powder that does not dissolve in water; adding water can create a slippery paste that is harder to clean.

Use a step stool to reach the server rack safely.

Why wrong: While a step stool might help, the primary concern is the poor lighting and dust, not height.

Remove the server from the rack and place it on the floor for easier access.

Why wrong: Placing a server on a dusty floor increases the risk of static discharge and debris ingress; it is safer to work in the rack with proper lighting.

Disconnect all power cables in the rack to eliminate electrical hazards.

Why wrong: Disconnecting all power is excessive and would disrupt other systems; the technician should only work on the specific server after proper lockout/tagout if needed.

Wear a grounding strap and immediately open the case.

Why wrong: While a grounding strap is good, the technician should first discharge residual power by pressing the power button.

Spray the interior with compressed air to remove dust before touching anything.

Why wrong: Compressed air is for cleaning, not for safety; it does not discharge capacitors and could blow dust into sensitive areas.

Remove the CMOS battery first to ensure no power remains.

Why wrong: Removing the CMOS battery does not discharge the main capacitors in the power supply; pressing the power button is the standard method.

Proceed with installing the new power supply and ignore the bulging capacitor.

Why wrong: A bulging capacitor is a safety hazard and can cause system instability or failure; ignoring it is irresponsible.

Use a screwdriver to short the capacitor leads to discharge it.

Why wrong: Shorting a capacitor with a screwdriver can cause a spark, loud pop, and potential injury; proper discharge uses a resistor or specialized tool.

Apply electrical tape over the bulging capacitor to contain it.

Why wrong: Tape does not neutralize the electrical charge or prevent the capacitor from leaking or bursting; it is not a safe solution.

Continue using the daisy-chained setup since it is convenient and all strips are rated for 15 amps.

Why wrong: Even if each strip is rated for 15A, daisy-chaining can cause cumulative overload and is against OSHA and NFPA safety guidelines.

Replace all power strips with heavy-duty extension cords rated for the total load.

Why wrong: Extension cords are not designed for permanent use and can also be a tripping hazard; power strips with breakers are preferred.

Install a UPS at the end of the daisy chain to regulate power.

Why wrong: A UPS does not fix the daisy-chain issue; it can still overload the circuit and the UPS itself may be damaged.

Immediately open the case and touch the CPU heatsink to check temperature.

Why wrong: Touching internal components while the system is powered on and hot can cause burns or static discharge damage.

Spray compressed air into the vents while the system is running to clear dust.

Why wrong: Spraying compressed air into a running system can cause fan blades to spin too fast and damage bearings or generate static.

Replace the power supply unit immediately to fix the overheating.

Why wrong: Replacing the PSU without diagnosing the cause of overheating is premature and may not address the actual issue, such as a clogged fan.

Quickly unplug the sparking PC to prevent a fire.

Why wrong: Approaching a sparking PC near an unstable rack puts the technician at risk of electric shock or being struck by falling equipment.

Use a fire extinguisher on the sparking PC to prevent ignition.

Why wrong: Using a fire extinguisher on live electrical equipment can cause shock and may not address the structural instability.

Stabilize the rack with a nearby pallet to prevent further collapse.

Why wrong: Attempting to stabilize a heavy rack without proper training and equipment can cause it to collapse further, injuring the technician.

Leave the cables as they are and run the new cables alongside them.

Why wrong: Adding more cables to an unsafe situation increases the risk of ceiling tile collapse and does not fix the existing hazard.

Use zip ties to attach the cables to the sprinkler pipes for stability.

Why wrong: Attaching cables to sprinkler pipes is against fire code because it can interfere with sprinkler operation in an emergency.

Remove the existing cables and replace them with the new ones.

Why wrong: Removing existing cables without knowing their purpose could disrupt network services; the correct action is to secure all cables properly.

Use a standard household vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment.

Why wrong: Vacuum cleaners can create static electricity that may damage components. They are not recommended for cleaning inside computers.

Use a damp cloth to wipe down the components.

Why wrong: Moisture can cause short circuits and corrosion. Damp cloths should never be used inside a computer.

Use a soft brush to sweep the dust out.

Why wrong: While a soft brush may be used in some cases, it can still create static and may not reach all areas. Compressed air is the preferred method.

Put on anti-static wrist strap and grounding mat.

Why wrong: While anti-static measures are important, they do not protect against electric shock from the power supply. The primary safety step is to disconnect power.

Press the power button to discharge residual power.

Why wrong: Pressing the power button may discharge some capacitors, but it is not a substitute for unplugging the power cord. The power supply can still be dangerous.

Wear safety goggles to protect eyes from debris.

Why wrong: Safety goggles are useful when working with tools that may create debris, but they do not address the primary electrical hazard. Unplugging power is the priority.

The CPU may be damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Why wrong: While ESD is a concern, touching the contacts with bare fingers primarily introduces contaminants. ESD is more of a risk from handling without proper grounding.

The CPU may overheat due to improper thermal paste application.

Why wrong: Overheating is related to thermal paste application, not touching contacts. The concern here is contamination of the contacts.

The CPU may be physically damaged by the pressure of the touch.

Why wrong: A light touch is unlikely to cause physical damage. The primary concern is contamination.

Place them in the regular office trash for pickup.

Why wrong: This is incorrect because CRT monitors contain hazardous materials and cannot be disposed of with regular trash. It violates environmental regulations.

Sell them to a scrap metal dealer.

Why wrong: While some parts may be recyclable, CRT monitors must be handled by certified e-waste recyclers to safely manage hazardous components. Selling them as scrap is not appropriate.

Disassemble them and recycle the plastic and metal separately.

Why wrong: Disassembly without proper training and equipment can expose the technician to hazardous materials. It should only be done by certified professionals.

Wear a respirator mask to avoid inhaling toner particles.

Why wrong: While a mask is good practice, it is not the most critical safety step. The main precaution is to avoid touching the drum and to handle the cartridge carefully.

Discharge the high-voltage power supply before touching the drum.

Why wrong: Laser printers have high-voltage components, but the immediate risk when handling the toner cartridge is toner exposure, not electric shock.

Use a vacuum cleaner to clean any spilled toner immediately.

Why wrong: Standard vacuum cleaners can spread toner dust into the air. Special toner vacuums with HEPA filters are required for safe cleanup.

Wear a hard hat to protect against head injuries.

Why wrong: While a hard hat is good practice, it is not the most important safety precaution for this task. The primary risk is electrical shock from nearby wiring.

Ensure the area is well-ventilated.

Why wrong: Ventilation is important for some tasks, but it is not the primary concern when running cables in a drop ceiling.

Wear anti-static gloves to prevent ESD.

Why wrong: ESD is a concern when handling sensitive equipment, but the main hazard in a drop ceiling is electrical shock from existing wiring.

Perform a quick format of each drive.

Why wrong: A quick format only removes the file system index, not the actual data. Data can be easily recovered with software.

Overwrite the drives with zeros using a low-level format.

Why wrong: Overwriting can be effective, but it takes time and there is a risk that some data may remain on bad sectors. Degaussing is more thorough.

Physically destroy the drives with a hammer.

Why wrong: Physical destruction is secure but not efficient for multiple drives. Degaussing is faster and equally secure.

The power supply is not compatible with the motherboard.

Why wrong: While compatibility is important, the most common safety-related oversight is the voltage selector switch. Incompatibility would usually cause different symptoms.

The power cord is not securely plugged into the power supply.

Why wrong: This is a simple connection issue, not a safety oversight. The question asks for a safety-related oversight.

The power supply fan is blocked by debris.

Why wrong: A blocked fan could cause overheating later, but it would not prevent the computer from powering on initially.

Ensure the UPS is connected to a grounded outlet before mounting.

Why wrong: While grounding is important, the immediate safety risk during installation is physical injury from the weight of the UPS.

Verify that the UPS batteries are charged before installation.

Why wrong: Battery charge is not a safety concern during installation. The primary risk is physical injury from lifting.

Install the UPS at the top of the rack for better airflow.

Why wrong: Installing heavy equipment at the top of a rack can make it top-heavy and unstable. The UPS should be installed at the bottom for stability.

Class A fire extinguisher (water).

Why wrong: Water conducts electricity and can cause electrocution if used on an electrical fire. It is not safe.

Class B fire extinguisher (CO2).

Why wrong: CO2 extinguishers are for flammable liquids, not electrical fires. They can also cause thermal shock to equipment.

Class D fire extinguisher (metal).

Why wrong: Class D extinguishers are for combustible metals, not electrical fires. They are not appropriate for this scenario.