{"id":354,"date":"2020-10-21T12:11:17","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T20:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntron.com\/news\/?p=316"},"modified":"2021-01-12T08:19:38","modified_gmt":"2021-01-12T16:19:38","slug":"pcb-repair-shop-safety-best-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huntron.com\/news\/pcb-repair-shop-safety-best-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"Safety Best Practices in the PCB Repair Shop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

4 MIN. READ<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Safety<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In more recent times, printed circuit boards (PCBs) are often repaired rather than replaced due to the lower expense. Medical imaging devices, for example, along with office equipment and manufacturing robotics can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace. Repairing the equipment is often the preferred solution.
Not just anyone can set up a PCB repair shop and a great deal of technical knowledge is required. An important consideration is setting a high standard for safety measures that must be put in place to protect technicians from the workplace hazards associated with PCB testing and repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Chemical hazards in PCB repair<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Hazardous chemicals are involved in the manufacture of PCBs. If a repair shop etches and manufactures replacement boards its technicians are at risk of exposure to toxic photochemicals, acids and heavy metals in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, even if a repair shop does not etch new boards and only repairs existing circuit boards, workers are still at risk of being exposed to toxic residues, fumes and vapors. Lead solder is still a part of most PCBs and when the solder is melted for the replacement of components or the repair of a connection, vaporized lead, cadmium and copper are released. These heavy metals can accumulate in the human body<\/a> causing long-term damage to the health of the technicians working in a PCB repair shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It does not stop there \u2014 the flame retardants that are utilized to treat PCBs can be hazardous. Handling heated PCBs or breathing in their vicinity can lead to the absorption of chemicals such as BPA, TBBPA, Fyrol PMP and DOPO into the body. Chemicals such as these are classified as neurotoxins and carcinogens<\/a> by the US Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electrical and mechanical hazards in PCB repair<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Chemicals are not the only hazards that technicians face in the workplace. In a PCB repair shop, there are electrical and mechanical hazards to be overcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When troubleshooting damaged or faulty PCBs, electrical testing equipment is utilized to identify any bad components, defective connections and broken or bridged circuits. As with anything electrical, this equipment poses a risk of electrocution of the technicians. If a malfunction were to occur, this testing equipment risks causing electrical burns and fires<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the electrical hazards, a PCB repair shop can contain many mechanical hazards for workers. The tools for cutting and drilling, for instance, pose a risk of serious injury for the technicians. Hot solder can splatter, resulting in burns to the skin and eye injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best practices for safety in the PCB repair shop<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Setting up a safe repair shop starts with meeting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for lead exposure<\/a>. These standards require you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n