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Lab Safety & Security

The document outlines essential safety protocols for working with electricity and electronics in a lab setting, emphasizing personal safety, component safety, and soldering precautions. It highlights the importance of proper handling to prevent electrical shock and damage to components, as well as the need for preparedness in emergencies. Key safety measures include using insulating gloves, discharging capacitors, and knowing emergency procedures and equipment locations.

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salman
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4 views

Lab Safety & Security

The document outlines essential safety protocols for working with electricity and electronics in a lab setting, emphasizing personal safety, component safety, and soldering precautions. It highlights the importance of proper handling to prevent electrical shock and damage to components, as well as the need for preparedness in emergencies. Key safety measures include using insulating gloves, discharging capacitors, and knowing emergency procedures and equipment locations.

Uploaded by

salman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ECE LAB

Safety & Security


LAB SAFETY

Safety is always important when working with electricity and electronics. This includes
both the safety for you as well as safety for the circuit components you are working with.
Concerns such as high voltage or currents can affect the human body, while static safety
and proper component use can affect the life of your circuits.

Personal Safety

While electricity is in constant use by the researcher, both within and outside the
laboratory, significant physical harm or death may result from its misuse. When working
with high voltages and currents, it is important you remember that you can be hurt if your
body becomes the ‘circuit’, since the human body is a conductor of electricity.

Precautions:

● Work on electrical devices should be done only after the power has been shut off in
such a manner that it cannot be turned on accidentally.
● If the power cannot be turned off, use only one hand when working on it. This will
prevent a circuit from going through your heart, which could be potentially fatal.
● Internal energy storage devices such as capacitors must be discharged.
● All electrical wiring and construction must conform to standard safety practice.
● Wear insulating gloves made of leather or heavy cotton or rubber while working with
high voltage.
● Use only tools and equipment with non-conducting handles when working with
electrical devices.
● Never change wiring with circuit plugged into power source.
● Never plug leads into power source unless they are connected to an established
circuit.
● Avoid contacting circuits with wet hands or wet materials.
● Check circuits for proper grounding with respect to the power source.
● Do not use highly flammable liquids near electrical equipment.

Component Safety

Many electrical components are likely to be damaged by static electricity. Static charge
can build up to many thousands of volts, but with little energy. This cannot harm
humans, but it can easily damage electronic components.
To ensure static-safe handling, the best practice is to wear an anti-static strap and connect
it to an earth ground such as a computer case or a water pipe. If you do not have an
anti-static wristband, you can instead touch a ground every few minutes to discharge your
static build up.

Safety guidelines for the students

Following proper safety practices are a must when working with electronic equipment.
Not only is there the danger of electrical shock, but the components can explode if not
connected properly. Many of today’s electronic components are easily damaged by
improper handling. The test equipment used in the electronic service industry is expensive
and easily damaged if proper operating procedures are not followed.
● DOUBLE CHECK circuits for proper connections and polarity prior to applying the
power. Observe POLARITY when connecting polarized components or test equipment
into a circuit.
● Always OBSERVE POLARITY when connecting components into a circuit, especially
with electrolytic capacitors. Always CUT wire LEADS so the clipped wire falls on the
table top and not toward others.
● ONLY work with powered units WHEN NECESSARY for troubleshooting. REPLACE
ALL screws, not just some.
● Avoid PINCHING wires when putting equipment back together.
● ALWAYS REPLACE shields that were removed during service to avoid signal
RADIATION.
● Make sure TEST instruments are set for proper FUNCTION AND RANGE prior to
taking a measurement.
● When measuring UNCERTAIN qualities, start with the range switch on the HIGHEST
setting.

Soldering Precautions
● Apply HEAT from a soldering pencil for no more than a couple of seconds to AVOID
HEAT DAMAGE.
● When soldering a multi-pin component, avoid excessive heating to one area of the
component; DO NOT go from pin to pin in a straight line.
● KEEP soldering irons in their protective STAND when not in use. DO NOT TOUCH the
tip end of a soldering iron to check for heat.
Prepare for Emergencies
Since it is essential to react promptly and deliberately to emergencies, students should
learn what to do in various emergencies and be prepared to act accordingly – for example,
fires, injuries, and spills. Safety devices such as showers, eye washes, fire extinguishers,
and spill kits, must be clearly labeled and their use and location known to all those
working in a laboratory. Emergency phone numbers, alarms, and escape routes should be
clear to everyone.

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