Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education – Region X

Division of Valencia City
CENTRAL BUKIDNON INSTITUTE, INC.
Bagontaas, Valencia, Bukidnon 8709, Philippines
Senior High School Department

COMPUTER SYSTEM SERVICING 12 COMPENDIUM

UNIT 1
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING
Introduction

What are Computer Systems?

Understanding how a computer works is the first step to understanding computer systems. A
singular computer has the power to utilize a great number of functions. However, a computer
system incorporates other elements along with the computer to be able to do more. In the
simplest terms, a computer system is a system of devices that work together to take input,
process and store data, and display output. It is composed of the following parts

Lessons 3 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Quality Standards

What is Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)?

Professional settings and workplaces have rules that you must follow to maintain order. These
rules are meant to keep you safe, informed, and attentive towards any sign of danger.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) refers to the rules and standards that exist to promote a
safe work environment. In compliance with the Republic Act No. 11058, the OHS standards are
to be enforced in all work settings to secure the workforce’s safety and well-being.

The goals of OHS are the following:

1. Protect the welfare of employees and all persons present in the setting.
2. Teach the employees how to safely use electronic devices to avoid accidents.
3. Recognize issues, risks, and hazards in the workplace.
4. Implement safety practices and proper workplace behavior for better health and risk
management.
5. Educate employees on the proper usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for handling
work equipment.

Policies and procedures must be enforced. In CSS, familiarizing yourself with the OHS standards
is mandatory before you do any work. Not only is it required by law for you to be informed
about OHS, but it is also beneficial in becoming a competent computer technician. It is not only
our computers that must be kept in tip-top shape. We all must be too!
What Hazards Are Lurking in the Workplace?

Hazard awareness and assessment are essential to OHS. For this course, you are likely to work
indoors where the required equipment can be stored safely. However, keep in mind that hazards
can exist both inside and outside establishments, so it will benefit you to know how to identify
them and figure out their causes.

Ergonomic Hazards
These are hazards that can affect the health of the persons present in the workplace negatively.
Ergonomic hazards include improperly arranged workstations that can cause bad posture and
muscle pain for the users. These can have long-lasting effects that may end up being difficult to
treat.

Biological Hazards
Biohazards like viruses can spread when components, especially those that are frequently
touched like keyboards, mice, and touchscreens, are not habitually cleaned or sanitized after use.
Biohazards can also spread when the proper protective equipment is not used by employees.

Electrical Hazards
The mishandling of electrical equipment can lead to electrical hazards. Damaged cords, incorrect
wiring, and faulty outlets are some examples that can lead to electric burns and shocks as well as
explosions and fires in the workplace.

Fire Hazards
Even a small fire that starts in a computer laboratory can cause great damage to electronic
devices. Fire outbreaks commonly start from overloaded outlets, short- circuiting, overheating
power units, and electrical faults. Work settings where computers are used should also have
smoke detectors to alert people of the hazard and prevent the smoke from damaging any of their
equipment.

You can control these hazards and minimize the threats they pose by learning about safety
strategies. Chances are, there may already be strategies and contingency measures set in your
workplace.

Safety Strategies

Many safety strategies are used in work settings to comply with the OHS standards. Since you
are expected to work with computers and other electronic devices, you will encounter procedures
designed specifically for your job. The following outline is a basic procedure you can follow if
you encounter a hazard:

1. Identify the hazard.

2. Evacuate the area where the hazard is found.
3. If the hazard cannot be handled by the persons present, call for an emergency service to help
you eliminate the danger.
Safety strategies include contingency measures or plans used to respond to emergencies like fires
and electric shocks. In a contingency plan, it is necessary to have the following: a list of
emergency contact persons, a list of emergency equipment and their uses, and an evacuation
procedure.

While contingency measures deal with risk response, other guidelines also exist to focus on
prevention.

Here are some examples that you can follow to avoid work hazards and maintain OHS
awareness:
1. Do not work alone
For your safety and guidance, it is recommended to work with someone, especially if
emergencies likely arise.
2. Do not bring drinks and food to your working area
Accidentally spilling liquids and food on a computer can damage it. In worse cases, food
particles can get stuck inside the computer leading to short circuits and device damage.
Spills can get you electrocuted.
3. Power off and unplug the computer before you handle any of its components
It can be dangerous to leave a computer on while you are working on its parts. Make sure
the computer is turned off and all the cables and cords are unplugged.
4. Ground or discharge yourself before working on computer parts
Computer components are so sensitive that electrostatic discharge (ESD) or static
electricity from your body can damage them with a simple touch. Use an anti-static wrist
strap or touch anything made of metal, such as a doorknob or a computer’s case, to
ground yourself before handling the components.
5. Be careful with hand tools
Improper use of hand tools can lead to accidents such as short circuits or electric shocks.
As such, you need to know what each tool in the workplace is used for. Make sure that
they are also not defective and replace them immediately if they are damaged.
6. Handle electronic devices with care
Do not use excessive force on your work equipment to avoid breakage and accidents.
Ensure there are no loose screws and refrain from taking out computer parts when the
computer is on. Hold computer components on their edges to avoid damaging their
sensitive parts, such as the Integrated Circuit (IC).
7. Tidy up your work area before and after using it
This is to prevent biological hazards that can be harmful to the health of the next user. A
messy work area may also keep you from noticing hazards, which can lead to accidents.
8. Always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect yourself
There are different protective equipment for CSS that you can use, such as anti- static
devices, aprons, safety goggles, clothes that protect the skin, and close-toed shoes. These
will help you avoid injuries when working on computers. You will learn more about PPE
in the next section of this lesson.
9. Stay informed about the contingency measures
Your workplace should have contingency plans and procedures that you need to be
familiar with. These will be used for emergency response and preparedness when dealing
with accidents and hazards at work. For example, if a fire hazard is found in your
 workplace, you need to have an escape plan and a list of contact persons to call for
immediate assistance.
10. Clean computers with the proper equipment
Use a brush, a clean microfiber cloth, or a blower to clear away the dust on the
components of the computer you are working on. Do not blow on the computer
components or brush the dust away with your hands to avoid damage.

Incident Reports
If you encounter a hazard in the workplace, report it to your supervisor or to an emergency
contact person as soon as possible. Part of the reporting is making an incident report that details
the accidents and hazards that happened in the workplace.
In general, incident report forms that detail any incident in the workplace should contain the
following information:

1. Details of the person involved or the witness

2. Type of incident encountered (hazard or accident)
3. Date, time and place of the incident
4. A short description of the incident
5. Cause of the incident
6. Indication if emergency contact persons were informed of the incident

You may also include the following in the form should any of them be present during the
incident:
1. Injuries sustained from the incident and their causes
2. Indication if first aid treatment was given and what type
3. Photographic evidence
4. Actions taken after the accident to prevent further accidents
5. Recommended actions

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

OHS standards require you to use the appropriate protective equipment for this course. Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) is any equipment used to protect you from injuries, hazards, and
accidents at work.
This includes protective gear for the head, the eyes, the ears, the nose, the hands, and the feet.
Appropriate work clothes should also be worn before stepping inside the work area.

How Do We Apply Quality Standards?

Quality standards are the specifications or guidelines followed to guarantee the quality of a
business’ products and services. As part of following the OHS standards, the devices you will
work with need to be checked before using them. To be approved, they should follow the set
quality standards, which may differ from business to business. For example, a company may
expect you to know how to assess the products and services they offer, report defects, and work
towards customer satisfaction.
Choosing the Right Materials

Durability, reliability, aptness for their intended purpose, and affordability are some of the
criteria that need to be checked for each material. Ideally, you want a product that does its job,
performs well, and is available and affordable. To find such product, you have to consider three
things:

1. Selection of materials
Picking the right material requires you to consider your budget and standards. Before you
can test the material yourself or think about how much you should spend, you may first
have to do a little research to learn more about the material you are looking for, such as
its specifications. You have to know what it is meant to do and how it compares against
others that are like it.

2. Testing of materials
Once you have chosen the material, testing it will tell you its properties and if it follows
its own specifications. This stage can also reveal if the material is faulty or broken. Doing
this can aid in your research and test any hypotheses or questions you have about the
material.

3. Cost of materials
After picking and testing the material, consider the cost. While a low-cost material may
be desirable budget-wise, it may have poor quality. Not all expensive materials are of
good quality. You may be able to find quality ones at a fair price. You want to find a price
that is just right, while also considering other alternatives that may either be cheaper or
better in performance.

Identifying and Reporting Faults

Two common problems in materials are defects or faults and being out of specifications.
Learning how to identify when these things happen is vital for safety and health purposes.

1. When receiving materials, check that you are given the correct order and quantity and
charged the right price. The materials must also be in good condition.
2. Make sure that all order transactions are documented and all the orders have arrived
before securing payment. See to it that the materials are not defective. If they are, report
it so the materials can be returned and replaced as needed.
3. Make a quality log report for all the materials received, so you can keep track of how
many were purchased and how much. This should also indicate which materials had
defects.
Based on the lesson, write an incident report on the following scenarios:

1. A fire started in your school's computer laboratory due to electrical failure that led to
short-circuiting. There are no casualties, but you soon contacted the appropriate
emergency personnel to help deal with the hazard.

2. One of your friends suffered an electrical burn on their hand after touching exposed
wires. You turned off the source of electricity, moved your friend away from it, and
requested for medical attention as soon as you could.

Performance Task 3.1

Create a short video demonstrating the different hazards you can encounter in a computer
laboratory and how you can deal with them and prevent similar incidents from happening. Make
sure the procedures you present are in line with the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
standards.
Compiled Reference:
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