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220-1102 Practice Question: A technician is tasked with installing a new hard…
A technician is tasked with installing a new hard drive in a server rack. The rack is located in a cramped, dusty storage room with poor lighting. Which safety practice should the technician prioritize before beginning the installation?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the candidate's ability to prioritize environmental and personal safety over convenience or overkill measures, and the trap here is that test-takers may choose Option D (disconnecting all power) thinking it is the safest approach, but it is excessive and not the most immediate priority given the specific conditions described.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Wear a dust mask and use a flashlight to improve visibility.
The scenario describes a cramped, dusty storage room with poor lighting, which creates two immediate hazards: inhalation of dust particles and reduced visibility. Wearing a dust mask protects the technician's respiratory system from airborne particulates, while using a flashlight ensures they can see clearly to avoid accidental contact with components or cables. These measures directly address the environmental risks before any work begins.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a step stool to reach the server rack safely.
Why it's wrong here
Using a step stool primarily addresses height discrepancies, which is not the core problem identified by "poor lighting and dust." While proper ergonomic access is important for safety, a step stool does not mitigate the immediate risks of inhaling airborne particulates or making errors due to insufficient visibility. The technician's primary concern should be to address the environmental hazards directly, rather than just improving physical reach.
- ✓
Wear a dust mask and use a flashlight to improve visibility.
Why this is correct
Wearing a dust mask is crucial Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to prevent respiratory irritation and potential long-term health issues from inhaling airborne dust particles common in server environments. Simultaneously, using a flashlight directly counters the "poor lighting" condition, ensuring the technician has clear visibility of intricate components and connections. This combination minimizes the risk of installation errors, accidental damage, and personal injury, promoting a safe and accurate installation.
- ✗
Remove the server from the rack and place it on the floor for easier access.
Why it's wrong here
Removing a server from its rack and placing it on a dusty floor introduces significant risks, far outweighing any perceived ease of access. This action drastically increases the potential for Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) damage to sensitive internal components, as the server's grounding within the rack is compromised. Furthermore, exposing the server to an uncontrolled, dusty environment can lead to debris ingress into cooling systems and component circuitry, causing overheating or short circuits.
- ✗
Disconnect all power cables in the rack to eliminate electrical hazards.
Why it's wrong here
Disconnecting all power cables in an entire server rack is an extreme and highly disruptive measure that would cause widespread service outages for all systems hosted within that rack. Proper procedure dictates that only the specific server being worked on should be safely powered down and disconnected, often following a lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedure if multiple technicians are involved or if the work involves high voltage. This targeted approach ensures safety without unnecessarily impacting other critical operations.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.