Use of aerosol blowers to clean PCs - exposure to dust Options  Watch this topic  Print this topic » Normal Threaded

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BuzzLightyear		#1 Posted : 03 September 2010 10:51:01(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		My IT colleagues think it perfectly acceptable to clean PCs in the middle of our open plan office spraying dust everywhere. Alright, this is not super-high risk in the scheme of things but none-the-less not healthy. As they IT people, they are genetically disposed to give advice and not to receive it!, especially as it is concerning health and safety and coming from a close friend/colleague! Has anyone come across any official guidance or studies on this that I can give to my IT friends that they may be more open to believing?
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DavidFS		#2 Posted : 03 September 2010 10:55:28(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		If your cleaner uses a vac with tools, borrow that & clean up a few at a time.
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sean		#3 Posted : 03 September 2010 10:58:29(UTC)
Rank: Guest		http://www.computerhope.com/cleaning.htm Have a look at this site, its very clear about the health risks posed by keyboards.

David Bannister		#4 Posted : 03 September 2010 11:02:15(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Buzz, given that the dust in offices contains significant quantities of body debris (the result of sneezes, coughs, scratching that itch, normal shedding of skin etc) along with remnants of last year's pasties and crisps, insect remains and droppings, rodent droppings... you probably get the picture, it may be worthwhile instructing your IT people to blow elsewhere. Perhaps they could suck with a vac? Unpleasant, unhygienic, unnecessary?
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Safety Smurf		#5 Posted : 03 September 2010 11:16:36(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		stuff4blokes wrote: Buzz, given that the dust in offices contains significant quantities of body debris (the result of sneezes, coughs, scratching that itch, normal shedding of skin etc) along with remnants of last year's pasties and crisps, insect remains and droppings, rodent droppings... you probably get the picture, it may be worthwhile instructing your IT people to blow elsewhere. Perhaps they could suck with a vac? Unpleasant, unhygienic, unnecessary? Inconsiderate, rude, thoughtless?
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BuzzLightyear		#6 Posted : 03 September 2010 11:21:48(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Thanks for the replies and the link so far. Several people have mentioned vacuuming rather than air blowing which I used to think was a sensible approach. However, I have been told that vacuum cleaners cause static and therefore damage electric circuits.
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Safety Smurf		#7 Posted : 03 September 2010 11:36:04(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		BuzzLightyear wrote: Thanks for the replies and the link so far. Several people have mentioned vacuuming rather than air blowing which I used to think was a sensible approach. However, I have been told that vacuum cleaners cause static and therefore damage electric circuits. According to the advice on the link posted above, small battery powered vacuum cleaners made specifically for the task do not create static.
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BuzzLightyear		#8 Posted : 03 September 2010 11:47:48(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Safety Smurf wrote: BuzzLightyear wrote: Thanks for the replies and the link so far. Several people have mentioned vacuuming rather than air blowing which I used to think was a sensible approach. However, I have been told that vacuum cleaners cause static and therefore damage electric circuits. According to the advice on the link posted above, small battery powered vacuum cleaners made specifically for the task do not create static. Yeh I read that, however, I cannot imagine those little battery powered vacuum cleaners dislodging dust any where like as effectively as a blower. Also the guide warns that you must keep it a couple of inches above the circuit to avoid static. So, I can't imagine IT people wanting to take the risk of accidentally touching the circuit with one.
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Ron Hunter		#9 Posted : 03 September 2010 11:51:24(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		I've been similarly concerned in the past by 'live working' by IT people, who think nothing of working 'power on & covers off' when fault finding and component replacing in a busy office environment.
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m		#10 Posted : 03 September 2010 12:26:20(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		I tend to turn the keyboard upsidedown and bang it on the desk then you can vacuum up without the, highly improbable, risk of static. As for live working; working on a PC with the lid off is safe. The fan will not hurt anyone and the voltages are no greater than 12 VDC. The higher risk comes from the sharp edges of metal work in budget PCs
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Ron Hunter		#11 Posted : 03 September 2010 13:07:13(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		As for live working; working on a PC with the lid off is safe. The fan will not hurt anyone and the voltages are no greater than 12 VDC. The higher risk comes from the sharp edges of metal work in budget PCs Other than the input side of the transformer within the casing!
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BuzzLightyear		#12 Posted : 03 September 2010 13:31:57(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		m wrote: I tend to turn the keyboard upsidedown and bang it on the desk then you can vacuum up without the, highly improbable, risk of static. Good suggestion regarding keyboards, I do the same. Just to clarify, I wasn't referring to the keyboards. What I meant was opening up the casing of the PC and cleaning the circuits etc inside.
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Yossarian		#13 Posted : 03 September 2010 13:35:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Not an answer to your question, but there is a product on the market called Cyber Clean, which is a similar texture to "Slime" wot I got as a Christmas present many years ago. It is an alternative to aerosols and vacuums and can extract all sorts of stuff from between your keys. A web search will no doubt pick up stockists.
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MaxPayne		#14 Posted : 03 September 2010 14:10:08(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		I've heard of people putting their keyboards in a dishwasher which I read somewhere didn't do them any real harm. not sure I want one in with the dishes though. Anyone ever done this?
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Safety Smurf		#15 Posted : 03 September 2010 14:23:46(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		I've dismantled one and washed all the plastic parts in hot soapy water (thank heavens they don't give PC's that horrible magnolia finish anymore)
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firestar967		#16 Posted : 03 September 2010 14:30:25(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Max I wouldn't recommend that as the temperature of the water may cause damage to the membrane. However I have washed a couple of keyboards (normally after someone has knocked a cup of coffee over on them) in warm soapy water then left to dry out on the washing line. Worked perfectly well the next day.

m		#17 Posted : 03 September 2010 16:00:21(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Quote: As for live working; working on a PC with the lid off is safe. The fan will not hurt anyone and the voltages are no greater than 12 VDC. The higher risk comes from the sharp edges of metal work in budget PCs ron hunter wrote: Other than the input side of the transformer within the casing! The PSUs come in their own case, the live connections are inside that. OK, it would be live but beyond the remitof most IT guys when it comes to getting a PC going
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Hally		#18 Posted : 03 September 2010 16:25:40(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		There is no way i'm putting my laptop in the dishwasher...
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Safety Smurf		#19 Posted : 03 September 2010 16:29:19(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Hally wrote: There is no way i'm putting my laptop in the dishwasher... It won't be long before you can plug it into it 'though!
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Hally		#20 Posted : 03 September 2010 16:31:36(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Safety Smurf wrote: Hally wrote: There is no way i'm putting my laptop in the dishwasher... It won't be long before you can plug it into it 'though! Good, the dishwasher can do my job whilst i relax with my feet up and a beer...
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Canopener		#21 Posted : 03 September 2010 21:42:33(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Got to say that I have been using my trusty Miele 'hoover' for years to suck out the innards of my PCs for years, no problems experienced so far and it does help stop that CPU fan running overtime
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