Safety Information

Safety Conventions

The following conventions are used for the safety information in COMPASS:

Caution  This symbol means reader be careful.
In this situation, you might do something that could result in equipment damage or loss of data.

Warning  This symbol means danger.
 You are in a situation that could cause bodily injury. Before you work on any equipment, be aware of the hazards involved with electrical circuitry and be familiar with standard practices for preventing accidents.

Consult the following for information on how to ensure both your safety and the safety of equipment while performing tasks described in COMPASS:

Creating a Safe Work Zone

Caution  Always follow these instructions to ensure that the work area is safe prior to beginning work:
  • Keep tools and chassis components off the floor and away from foot traffic.
  • Clear the area of possible hazards, such as moist floors, ungrounded power extension cables, and missing safety grounds.
  • Keep the area around the chassis free from dust and foreign conductive material (such as metal flakes from nearby construction activity).

Safety with Electricity

Warning Always follow these instructions when working with any electrical equipment:
  • Before beginning any procedures requiring access to the chassis interior, locate the emergency power-off switch for the room in which you are working.
  • Disconnect all power and external cables before moving a chassis.
  • Do not work alone if potentially hazardous conditions exist.
  • Never assume that power is disconnected from a circuit; always check.
  • Do not perform any action that creates a potential hazard to people or makes the equipment unsafe.
  • Carefully examine your work area for possible hazards such as moist floors, ungrounded power extension cables, and missing safety grounds.

Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage equipment and impair electrical circuitry. It occurs when electronic printed circuit cards are improperly handled and can result in complete or intermittent failures.

Caution Always follow these instructions to prevent ESD damage:
    • Always use an ESD-preventive wrist strap or ankle strap and ensure that it makes good skin contact. Connect one end of the strap to an ESD jack or an unpainted metal component on the system (such as a captive installation screw).
    • Handle any circuit card by its faceplate and edges only; avoid touching the printed circuit board and connector pins.
    • When removing or installing a power supply, connect the equipment end of a ground strap to the chassis ground screw on the interface processor end of the chassis, or to an unpainted surface inside the noninterface processor end of the chassis, such as the chassis frame.
    • Place any removed component on an antistatic surface. If you plan to return a replaced part to the factory, immediately place it in a static shielding bag to avoid ESD damage to the board.
    • Avoid contact between any card and your clothing. The wrist strap only protects the board from ESD voltages on your body; ESD voltages may exist on clothing and can still cause damage.
Note  For safety, periodically check the resistance value of the antistatic strap. The measurement should be between 1 and 10 megohms (Mohms).

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