Safety first!

Learning happens best when everyone is safe. While we highly recommend giving students real tools and real devices to take apart, we want to keep everyone safe.

GOOD RULES OF THUMB

  • Use common sense.

  • Teach students tool safety and how to properly use tools.

  • Watch out for sharp or hot pieces.

  • Electronics are toxic; they should never be in or around anyone's mouth. Students should wash their hands when they are done working with electronics.

  • Never apply excessive force. If something won't budge, rethink the problem.

  • Remember: if it seems unsafe, it probably is. Take a step back and reevaluate the situation.

GOOD and BAD DEVICES:

good

  • Cell phones

  • Laptops

  • Desktops

  • Hard drives

Bad

  • CRTs (i.e. old TVs and monitors)

  • Microwaves

  • Powerboards (found in flat screen monitors and TVs)

  • Pinball machines

  • Camera flashes

  • Power supplies (found inside desktops, power bricks, or other large electronics)

  • Batteries

  • Audio amplifiers

General Safety Warnings (All Devices)

Use Good Judgment and Common Sense

Use these instructions as a starting point, but remember that every device is different. Keep an eye out for any possible safety hazards that might be unique to your situation.

Plan your project carefully. Try to anticipate potential hazards, and take steps to avoid them.

If you feel less than 100% safe performing any aspect of a repair, stop working immediately and ask for help.

Don't work alone. In the event of an emergency, it's important to have someone on hand to help or call 911.

Disconnect All Power Sources

Never work on an electronic device that is plugged in to a power outlet.

  • The device should be physically unplugged, not just “switched off.”

  • Whenever possible, remove the battery or batteries before beginning disassembly.

For home maintenance projects that use electricity from a circuit breaker, always turn off the power from the circuit breaker and turn off any light switches that provide power to the item you’re working on.

  • Always include action shots in the first step of your guide that show how to cut electricity from the circuit breaker and turn off any light switches.

  • You should also include these instructions in the introduction to your guide.

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Watch Out for Large Capacitors

Big capacitors (the kind most likely to be dangerous) are usually cylindrical and look roughly like battery cells.

  • Assume they are charged until you've confirmed they are discharged.

  • Use an appropriate tool to discharge and/or ground large capacitors, while keeping yourself well insulated and at a safe distance.

  • When discharging large capacitors, use only one hand, and keep the other hand behind your back or in your pocket. This prevents you from inadvertently completing a circuit with your second hand and creating a path for electric current to travel through your heart.

  • Wear rubber-soled shoes.

  • Wear eye protection. A stray spark can cause severe eye damage.

  • Remove all rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc. before working on devices with large capacitors.

  • If you do not have a capacitor discharge pen or other appropriate tool, you can construct your own!

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Be Mindful of Moving Parts

Large, mechanical devices such as bicycles or cars contain many moving parts that can pose a safety hazard, particularly when repairs are being performed.

  • Any given part’s range of motion may change suddenly while you are working on it. Position yourself so that if a heavy or potentially dangerous part moves unexpectedly, you will not be injured.

  • Wear protective gloves.

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Avoid Heavy Metal Toxicity

Printed circuit boards in older electronics may contain toxic heavy metals such as lead and mercury. Wash your hands thoroughly after you finish and before you eat. Don't eat or drink while handling electronic components.

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Safety For Your Readers

When creating your guides, use the “Caution” bullet in any steps that present a possible hazard to you or your device—or that could become hazardous if performed inattentively or incorrectly—and warn your readers accordingly.

To add the “Caution” bullet to any specific steps that could pose a safety hazard:

  1. When editing the step, click the black bullet next to your text in order to display the list of special bullets.

  2. Select the “Caution” bullet. Use one of the following text descriptions in accompaniment with the “Caution” bullet to explain the nature of the hazard:

    • Potential for device damage

    • Caution: Hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury

    • WARNING: Hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury

  3. Include detailed steps the reader should take in order to complete the task safely.

  4. Save your work when you are finished.

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Tool Safety

Even the simplest tools can cause injury if used incorrectly. Tools like tweezers and metal spudgers have sharp tips that are capable of breaking the skin or puncturing batteries, which could potentially start a fire. In addition, metal spudgers are not ESD-safe, which means that if misused, the tool could produce an electric shock to you or your device. Pay attention to your tool handling, and avoid accidentally hurting yourself or a team member.

Soldering Safety

Some repairs require soldering, which may be intimidating for first-time fixers. Soldering can be both safe and fun, provided a few basic safety guidelines are followed.

Protect your lungs. Solder fumes can be toxic. At the very least they will irritate your lungs if inhaled, and may aggravate certain medical conditions such as asthma.

  • Work in a well-ventilated area.

  • Keep your head to the side of your work, rather than directly above.

Protect your skin.

  • Use lead-free solder.

  • Hold wires and solder with tweezers, or wear heavy gloves. Don't use your bare hands.

  • Don't touch the tip of the iron. (If it's hot enough to melt solder, it's more than hot enough to burn you.)

  • Wash your hands after finishing your work.

Protect your eyes. Solder can “pop” and “spit” unexpectedly, so wear safety glasses at all times.

Protect against heat, fire, and other hazards.

  • Solder only on heat-resistant surfaces and materials. (Good: A piece of drywall. Bad: A ream of paper.)

  • Keep your workspace tidy, and clear it of any flammable objects before you begin.

  • Set the soldering iron down only on the iron stand.

  • Never leave a hot soldering iron unattended.

  • Keep a fire extinguisher nearby, and make sure you know how to use it.

  • Don't eat or drink while soldering.

Protect the environment. Don’t throw lead solder, nor sponges contaminated with lead solder, into the trash. Put them in a sealed container and take them to your local household hazardous waste disposal facility. If circuit boards or other electronic components are beyond repair, recycle them responsibly.

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CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) Displays

Do not attempt to disassemble or repair older CRT televisions or computer monitors. CRT displays contain potentially lethal high-voltage capacitors, glass-walled vacuum tubes that can implode violently if mishandled, and large quantities of lead.

  • You can recognize CRT displays primarily by their bulk: unlike modern flat screen LCD or plasma displays, which tend to be quite thin, CRTs are typically about as thick as they are wide.

  • Choose only devices with non-CRT displays for your student project. Leave CRT display repairs to an experienced technician.

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Flat-Panel TVs and Computer Monitors

Modern flat screen displays are much safer to service than older, CRT-type TVs and monitors. However, there are a few potential hazards to be aware of if you've chosen one of these displays for your project.

Unplug the TV from the power outlet before you begin work. This should go without saying for all electronic devices, but flatscreen displays contain power supply boards with large capacitors that can be particularly dangerous when charged.

Before touching any other internal components, disconnect the power supply from the main board.

  • The power supply usually looks like a circuit board with a series of cylindrical capacitors that look roughly like battery cells.

  • Avoid touching or prying near the capacitor leads unless you have verified that they are fully discharged.

Use extra caution with CCFL-backlit displays. Some pre-2010 flat screen displays used cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) containing mercury. CCFLs look like long, tube-shaped fluorescent lights, usually placed behind or to the sides of the display. If broken, they may leak small amounts of mercury, which is very toxic. If you accidentally break a CCFL bulb:

  • Do not touch any glass shards or spilled liquids with your bare hands.

  • Wear protective gloves, and clean the area with a damp rag.

  • Keep the area well-ventilated.

  • When finished, wash your hands thoroughly.

  • Be sure to put any mercury-contaminated shards or rags in a sealed container and dispose of them responsibly.

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Microwave Ovens

Microwaves are among the most hazardous appliances to repair, and are off limits for the iFixit project. They contain large, high-voltage capacitors capable of delivering a fatal electrical shock, and can also leak harmful levels of radiation if damaged or reassembled improperly.

  • If you're unsure about what you're doing, get expert help or choose a different device for your student project.

  • Do not touch any internal components or wiring until you have verified that all high-voltage capacitors are discharged.

  • Never operate a microwave that looks damaged or imperfectly repaired. Be especially wary of damage to the door, hinges, latches, or seals.

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Cars and Trucks

While fixing motor vehicles can be very rewarding, it comes with more hazards than a typical smartphone or laptop repair.

For this reason, we are very careful about which car and truck guides we’ll approve for your project.

In general, “under the hood” guides are off limits for the iFixit project. Occasionally we make exceptions—if you get your instructor’s permission, sign a waiver, and can convince us that your entire team knows how to do the job safely.

If you're okay with those conditions and are willing to put up with an unusually high amount of scrutiny from us, here are the safety requirements for car and truck guides. 

Always disconnect the battery before beginning repairs. Battery type and location varies by vehicle, so consult your vehicle's user manual for exact instructions.

  • There is a risk of electric shock if the battery terminals are handled incorrectly or inattentively. Observe the safety guidelines in your user manual, and get help if you aren’t sure what to do.

  • Never work on a vehicle with the motor running. Even at idling speed, engine belts and fans can cause serious injury. Cooling fins rotate fast enough that they can be practically invisible at the edges, and can easily catch you off guard. There may also be electrical hazards at the alternator, spark plug wires, and other areas. If you need to start the engine, stay well clear of the engine bay, and make sure all four wheels are firmly on the ground.

Protect your eyes and skin. A pinched finger or a stray splash of brake fluid can leave you seriously, even permanently, injured (and bring your project to a halt, to boot). Wear heavy-duty gloves and eye protection at all times.

Protect your lungs. Cars and trucks contain an abundance of toxic substances, from brake dust to gasoline fumes. Work in a well-ventilated area, and wear a mask or respirator if appropriate.

Protect your pets. Don't leave automotive fluids—particularly coolant or antifreeze—lying around for your pets to find. Antifreeze commonly contains ethylene glycol, a toxic compound which nevertheless gives off a sweet odor that is appealing to many animals. Keep your coolant or antifreeze containers sealed, and transfer used fluids to a sealed container immediately after draining them from your vehicle.

Use the right tools. Taking shortcuts by trying to “make do” with a less-than-perfect tool can turn even a simple repair into one fraught with hazards, for both you and your vehicle. If you don't have the right tools, get them—or choose a different device to work on. Many auto parts stores have free tool checkout programs that can help you complete a repair properly, inexpensively, and safely.

Observe local laws, and protect the environment. Used automotive fluids such as motor oil, gear oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and coolant (antifreeze) must be disposed of responsibly—along with any rags, paper towels, or filters that have been contaminated by these substances. Take them to your local household hazardous waste disposal facility in a sealed container. Never pour used automotive fluids down the drain or into the street.

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WEAPONS

We do have some user-submitted firearm guides on iFixit, but weapons are off-limits for the Technical Writing Project for safety reasons.

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Mobile Devices (Laptops, Tablets, & Smartphones)

Lithium-ion batteries power nearly all modern mobile devices. While they are not normally dangerous, they do store a large amount of energy, which can cause serious injury if released suddenly.

Never puncture a battery. Don't pry at batteries with metal spudgers, screwdrivers, or other sharp tools. A ruptured battery can rapidly heat up, catch fire, and even violently explode.

Don't bend or deform batteries excessively. It's normal for glued-in batteries, like iPhone and iPad batteries, to deform slightly when removed. However, excessive bending could rupture a cell and cause a fire. Use caution and try to keep any deformation to a minimum.

If you notice any battery smoking or swelling to large size, stop working and back away.

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Cameras

Digital camera flashes are powered by capacitors capable of delivering severe electric shock.

Don't be fooled! They may look innocent, but even small cameras contain capacitors that pack a wallop.

  • The capacitor stores a charge drawn from the camera's battery. Be sure to remove the battery before you open the camera or attempt to discharge the capacitor.

  • After opening a camera, avoid touching any internal components until you have verified that the capacitor is safely discharged.

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Air compressors

Before disassembling or servicing any air compressor:

  • Unplug the power cord.

  • Open the bleed valve on the main tank to release any compressed air. Never work on an air compressor while components are under pressure.

  • Never attempt to puncture air tanks with sharp objects or tools.

Proper lubrication is crucial to air compressor functionality and safety. When working on air compressors:

  • Do not over lubricate.

  • Use the correct oil or lubricant for your model. Avoid low flash point lubricants, which have the potential to ignite during operation and cause a fire or explosion.

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PC Power Supplies

A typical PC power supply contains capacitors large enough to deliver a significant electrical shock.

  • Never work on a power supply that is plugged in.

  • After unplugging the power cord, press and hold the PC's power button for about 5 seconds. In some cases this will help drain capacitors that might otherwise have retained a charge.

  • After unplugging the power, wait 10 minutes before disassembling the power supply. Capacitors used in PC power supplies typically lose any remaining charge a short time after being unplugged.

  • Nevertheless, assume all large capacitors are charged unless you have confirmed otherwise. Safely ground or discharge all large capacitors before handling internal power supply components.

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