Despite being one of your company’s safest pieces of equipment, a desktop printer still needs to be used with care. The moving, heated elements of a computer printer are powered by electricity and contain chemicals. Maintaining the functionality of your investment while also safeguarding you and the people working in your office is known as printer safety.
-Stable Base
A stable, level surface is necessary for a printer to function. Some printers weigh more than 25 pounds, and their vibrations can shake a table that isn’t sturdy enough to support them. Objects, including the printer itself, can fall off a table or desk when it is shaken.
-Mechanical Hazards
The printer uses rubber rollers to bring paper into itself. Keep long hair tied up and away from the paper feed mechanism, be cautious with jewelry, and keep your hands away from the printer’s feed trays while it’s operating because these same rollers can pull in fingers, dangling jewelry, or long hair. Large-format printers, like those employed by engineering firms, architectural firms, and art departments, have more powerful, heavier mechanisms that may be harmful.
-Hot Components
Paper is pressed against a metal drum in laser and LED printers. An image created with toner powder, a thin polymeric material, is kept in the drum. The toner is melted by subsequent heating, which makes it bond with the paper. The internal components of a laser printer heat up to the point of causing burns after operating for more than a few minutes. Give the printer ten minutes to cool down if you need to open it before replacing a toner cartridge or removing a paper jam.
-Electrical Precautions
To ensure electrical safety, use the same precautions for printers as you would for any other small appliance: plug the cord into a three-prong outlet that has been approved, keep the cord out of the way of traffic to avoid trip hazards, and protect it from pinching and abrasion from desk drawers or other unintentional contact. Never unplug the printer to turn it off; this can lead to jammed pages that aren’t completely finished. Instead, always use the power button to turn the printer on and off. If you are in a moist environment, keep it away from moisture and purchase a humidifier. Avoid opening the printer’s electrical and electronic components while it is plugged in because you could get shocked.
-Noise
Office settings are well suited for inkjet, thermal, and laser printers because of how quietly they operate. Dot-matrix impact printers produce a loud buzzing sound but have low operating costs. Use a sound cover or place the printer in a different room to reduce noise.
-Toner and Ink
Wear disposable plastic gloves when changing toner or ink cartridges. The substances inside can stain your skin or clothes. Handle new cartridges carefully, as they contain delicate components. Wrap spent cartridges in plastic to avoid ink or toner leakage. Store new cartridges in a cool, dark place to avoid damage by heat or direct sunlight.
