- Working with computer components can actually be really fun. There are huge communities of hobbyists around the world that build PCs and as an Infrastructure Technician you'll be doing that professionally. In order to start you might think you just need to identify all the types of computer parts. However, before you learn how to physically build a computer there are some important safety measures that you should know about. As there are electrical components it's always worth taking precautions to make sure that nothing gets damaged. So, what are the risks when working with computer components? And how do you protect the equipment from getting damaged? When it comes to working with PC components there's one big thing you need to be prepared for, static electricity. Static electricity builds up around us naturally and can damage computer components which will be an expensive incident especially with the CPU. There are several things you can do to discharge this static electricity and it's always worth being prepared to protect yourself as well as the equipment you're working with. The first thing to do before working on any electrical equipment is to actually check the clothes you're wearing. You need to remove any items of clothing made of wool like woolly jumpers or socks. Wool naturally builds up and generates static electricity. You may have rubbed a balloon on a woolly jumper at one point to see how it sticks to things. It's able to stick to items because of a static electricity buildup. Next, you need to check the environment you're working in you want to make sure you aren't working on any woolly carpets as this will again naturally build up static. The best flooring to work on is a non-carpeted area like a wooden or tiled floor. The humidity of the environment you're working in it also matters. You want to avoid working in cold, dry environments as it also naturally builds up static electricity. You also want to make sure that the workspace you're working on is clear of any unnecessary items such as paper or folders. Paper and plastic sheets can also generate static electricity. It's also worth considering standing on an anti-static mat as a precaution. When it comes to working on the PC the first thing you'll want to do is touch a grounded object. A grounded object is something that has a direct conductive path to the earth such as a water pipe, wall or wooden table. When working with computers the ideal way to ground yourself is to touch the exterior metal box of your computer's power supply before unplugging the machine. When you've unplugged the PC it's best to wear an anti-static wristband. Anti-static wristbands prevent static buildup by tethering you to your computer through a wire so the charge is shared and static discharges don't occur. Then before you start to work on it you obviously want to make sure that the PC is turned off and unplugged from the mains. When you're working with computer components themselves make sure you handle the components at the edges. Don't grab them with a full hand as this could build up static electricity. Taking precautions when working with computer materials is a sensible habit to get into. It protects you and the equipment you're working with.