Risk associated with Computer.
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Computer is a electronic equipment .Computer equipment has become hugely popular both in
domestic and workplace settings, but there are some risks associated with using computers that
should be considered. Aside from faults with the equipment at purchase, most issues will start to
occur after prolonged use.
Risk(Computer Equipment)
computer is a basic office computer or an ‘all the bells and whistles’ gaming computer which
glows and pulses like something from a sci-fi movie, it will be run using electricity supplied by
the mains. While electricity can be contained and directed, it can’t be controlled per-se, and
faults, damage, and issues with the equipment have the potential to result in an electric
shock/electrocution.
In the United Kingdom, theoretically, the supply of power to your device should be interrupted if
the equipment has a fault that results in an electrical discharge. Most commonly this will be
because of a blown fuse in the power supply cable, the extension lead, the wall socket (where
applicable), the electrical fuse board’s switch for that circuit, or the fuse board’s switch for the
whole house .However, when equipment is faulty/damaged, you often won’t have any warning
until you come into contact with the electrical current and receive an electric shock, for example,
if a wire is damaged and you touching it is the first thing to allow it to discharge.
Electrical Fires.
All equipment that draws power is also effectively drawing heat. The basic principles of fire are
that a fire cannot start without a source of heat/ignition, a source of oxygen, and a source of fuel.
Typically, in a setting where you have a PC this will be:
Oxygen from the atmosphere
Heat from your power source/wiring
Fuel such as paperwork, furnishings, cloth and other combustible materials
Friction Fires.
While some high-end computers now use ‘water cooling’ most will have a cooling system that is
simply a fan or multiple fans that draw cool air through the machine, and hot air away from the
working parts.
Fans are renowned for causing fires through friction by generating heat as they spin, because
they are in contact with other parts. This is often because they are poorly fitted, poorly made, or
poorly maintained parts. A good example of this is that a fan which is slightly too big for its
container may rub against it, or a fan that is poorly maintained may have a build up of dust,
which can act as fuel for a fire to start.
Manual Handling.
This may seem trivial or even a little over the top, but it’s not the weight of a computer that tends
to present risks when it comes to manual handling, but more the awkwardness of the load being
carried. High-performance or older computers can often be weightier, but typically issues arise
from accessing them (i.e. pushing and pulling them under desks), picking them up/putting them
down (and forgetting to bend with your knees!) or carefully transporting them, as they can be
awkward shapes or the plastic cases may be slippery and sheer making them hard to grip.
Trip Hazards.
PC has power cables, monitor cables, an ethernet cable, keyboard, mouse, webcam and an
extension lead – each one of these cables if left dangling or trailing can become a trip hazard and
cause you or someone else to fall, often resulting in cuts, bruises, muscle strains or even broken
bones.
Power cables from laptops are renowned for being a trip hazard, because laptops can be brought
and used anywhere, and often building/room designers have not considered the need for
accessible in-floor or from-ceiling power sockets.
