Business Education

Name______

Safety Rules

Business Education

Most of the following items apply to both the classroom and the office. However, depending on the characteristics of the individual classroom, some items may apply only to the office environment. In any case, students who anticipate an office career can benefit from exposure to all items.

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Name______

Electrical Equipment – General

Whenever electrical equipment like a computer is being operated in a classroom or office, several safety rules apply. These rules protect the operator of the equipment, other persons in the environment, and the equipment itself.

1.  Do not unplug equipment by pulling on the electrical cord. Instead, grasp the plug at the outlet and remove it.

2.  Do not stretch an electrical cord across an aisle where someone might trip over it.

3.  Avoid food and beverages near equipment where a spill might result in an electrical short.

4.  Do not attempt to remove the cover of equipment for any reason while the power is turned on.

5.  Do not attempt to repair equipment while it is plugged in. To avoid damage, an authorized service technician should do most repairs.

6.  Always turn the power off or unplug equipment when finished using it.

7.  Do not lean over equipment that has moving parts when wearing jewelry, a tie, scarf, loose sleeves, or other clothing that could get caught in the machinery. This could result in damage to the machinery, jewelry, or clothing, and could cause personal injury.

8.  Exercise caution when using chemicals such as toner and duplicating fluids to avoid spills. Some chemicals are toxic.

9.  Do not overload extension cords.

10.  Follow manufacturer recommendations for safe use.

11.  Replace frayed electrical cords immediately.

Computers

In addition to the general safety issues when using equipment, the following cautions apply.

1.  Do not insert objects other than disks in disk drives to avoid damage to the drives.

2.  Avoid blocking air vents to prevent overheating.

3.  Position keyboards to prevent bumping or dropping them off the work surface.

Monitors

1.  Do not attempt to repair the monitor. Most manufactures advise repair by authorized service technicians only.

2.  Adjust brightness and focus for comfortable viewing.

3.  Avoid glare on the monitor screen.

4.  Keep the screen clean. Only use a soft cloth for cleaning.

Disks

The following precautions should be heeded with disks to avoid damage to data and programs.

1.  Put write/protect tabs on all program software to avoid accidental erasure.

2.  Do not bend or fold diskettes.

3.  Do not write on a diskette with a hard or sharp-pointed pen or pencil; use a felt-tip marker.

4.  Do not touch exposed surfaces of diskettes.

5.  Be sure the disk drive is not running when you insert or remove a diskette.

6.  Keep disks away from extreme hot or cold temperatures.

7.  Keep disks away from magnetic fields such as transformers, telephones, and magnets.

8.  Keep disks stored in appropriate case.

9.  Keep disks away from smoke, ashes, and dust.

10.  Do not leave disks in the disk drive for prolonged periods, such as overnight.

Work areas and furnishings

Surfaces

1.  Store scissors and other sharp objects with the sharp points downward. These items are best stored flat. Keep sharp objects away from the edges of surfaces where they may be knocked off and puncture feet.

2.  Avoid eating or drinking at the workstation so spills do not ruin your work.

3.  Use a staple remover rather than a fingernail to remove staples.

4.  Do not examine a jammed stapler by holding it near your eyes or testing it over your finger.

5.  Avoid clutter that could cause puncture wounds by sharp objects underneath.

6.  Store sharp objects such as pins and thumbtacks in covered containers to avoid puncture wounds.

Drawers

1.  Never reach blindly into a drawer.

2.  Do not push a drawer shut with your hand at the top or side of the drawer to avoid injury to the hand. Use the handle instead.

3.  Be careful when using file cabinets to avoid tipping them over. File drawers should be filled beginning at the bottom drawer and moving to the top drawer. Also, file drawers should be emptied from the top drawer down.

4.  Do not leave drawers open where someone may trip over them.

5.  Set adjustable chairs for personal comfort and back support.

6.  Be careful when sitting down in chairs that have casters.

7.  Do not lean too far in any direction to avoid tipping over.

8.  Use static control mats to safeguard electronic data.

9.  Replace rugs/mats that have curling edges to avoid tripping.

10.  Exercise caution when using step stools or ladders to avoid falling.

11.  Keep fingers away from paper cutter blades and never leave the blade in an upright position.

12.  Tape or sand sharp edges or furniture to avoid personal injury and damage to clothing.

Emergency procedures

1.  Learn the location of emergency telephone numbers. Ideally emergency telephone numbers should be posted on or near each telephone.

2.  Learn the location of the nearest fire exit, fire alarm box, and fire extinguisher.

3.  Learn emergency evacuation procedures and follow them precisely.

4.  Never ignore a fire alarm or other evacuation alarm.

5.  Learn the location of first aid kits.

6.  Inspect and restock first aid kits frequently.

7.  Learn the names and locations of those who are trained in first aid or CPR.

8.  Do not tempt a potential thief by leaving personal valuables such as purses, checkbooks, jackets, and cash in plain sight. Keep personal belongings out of sight and locked in a drawer, file cabinet, locker, or closet.

9.  Learn and follow security procedures, especially those that apply to being in the building during non-working hours.

10.  Report unauthorized visitors immediately.

Working alone after hours.

1.  Always work near a phone and keep emergency telephone numbers nearby.

2.  Lock all doors to your work area. Do not open the door to anyone you are not expecting or cannot identify.

3.  Become acquainted with maintenance staff and learn when to expect them.

4.  Do not use an elevator if anyone suspicious is in it. Stand next to the control buttons.

5.  Park near the building entrance and near a light.

6.  Check the paring lot visually before leaving the security of the building.

7.  Keep car keys in hand ready to use.

8.  Request an escort from security personnel if available.

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Name______

I have read the above Business Education safety rules and I am aware of and risks that I might encounter.

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Signed Date

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