COMPUTER SAFETY AND CARE

Keep all food and drinks away from computer and equipment. Liquid spills may cause an electrical shock or the computer not to operate properly.

Be careful when connecting cables to the computer system Never attempt to repair the computer while it is on. Make sure the power is turned off and the computer is unplugged. You might touch a part that conducts electricity.

Remove/insert external storage devices (CD/DVD, USB jump drives) when light is OFF or prompted to remove.

Secure power cords from traffic.

Use equipment covers to protect hardware from dust.

Turn off the computer during electrical storms. If there is an electrical storm, students may be instructed to turn off the equipment. If the power goes off, all equipment must be turned off.

Maintain appropriate room temperature and humidity levels. Keep ventilation openings clear and free.

Always use surge protectors. Surge protectors can help guard against lightning. Students should never unplug or turn off surge protectors for any reasons in the lab.

Never open email attachments from unknown sources Never open email attachments from unknown sources. You could expose computer to dangerous viruses. Do NOT bring outside external storage devices the lab. You could risk bringing viruses into the lab.

Canned air can be used to clean your computer keyboard. Never spray your computer with household cleanser to keep it clean.

Always handle disks properly and with care. Do NOT bend and keep disks at room temperature. Do NOT write on disks label with a pencil. Use only a felt tip pen to write on disks. Do NOT place disks close to TVs or other electronic devices.

Do NOT bring grooming materials to the computer workstations. Hair should NOT be brushed or “fixed” at the workstation.

When keyboarding, the keyboard should be kept positioned at the FRONT edge of the desk. Students should always use proper keyboarding posture and sit correctly in their chairs.

Never bang the mouse or on the keys. Always use a light touch with these input devices.

Computers must be shut down properly. Students in the last period are responsible for turning off the computer each day.

Student should NOT horseplay in the computer lab. You could damage the equipment.

Save the document you are working on every 5 minutes. Always save your work on your student drive or (S:\ drive);

Laptops should NOT be moved from one station to another without permission. Laptops should be held by holding one hand under the bottom and other holding the screen. Do not unplug the USB mouse from laptop. Labels, keys, and the red mouse button should not be removed from laptop.