SAFETY NOTICE – USB STICKS

[alan-d]

I've had to publish a safety notice Re USB sticks. I thought I'd copy it here in case it was of use to someone.

 

 

All Staff and Students should be aware of the dangers of using USB Sticks that have been stored without a protective cap or sleeve.

 

Recently there have been 2 cases where USB sticks have been stored in pockets or pencil cases without a protective cap. This has led to pencil tips and other debris to become lodged in the USB stick un-noticed and when used in a PC or laptop has caused an electrical short. This has led to some burning and in one case a burnt finger.

 

Please ensure that USB sticks are stored with the provided caps or sleeves. If the cap or sleeve is missing please check the device is not clogged with debris before inserting it into a PC or Laptop.

[Gatt]

did you CC: this to "Mr Common Sense"? ;-)

 

On a serious note - I have in the past pulled out a retractable USB drive to find it clogged with dust.

I always check USB connections, not just drives, for the presence of dust etc as its easy for them to get clogged....

[alan-d]

did you CC: this to "Mr Common Sense"? ;-)

 

On a serious note - I have in the past pulled out a retractable USB drive to find it clogged with dust.

I always check USB connections, not just drives, for the presence of dust etc as its easy for them to get clogged....

 

The best part is that the student put the usb in one port and smelt burning so took it out and put it in another port before taking it out again and burning her finger

[Gatt]

If at first you don't succeed...

[Grey-gear]

Shame the schools no long teach common sense anymore.

[JonWPS]

They've got no-one to teach it.

[Chuckster]

The problem with common sense is that it isn't common.

[Gatt]

Shame the schools no long teach common sense anymore.

 

Just amend the quote slightly...

 

Shame the schools no long teach common sense anymore

[sparkeh]

Urgh, I had a spate of USB sticks being forced in the port the wrong way round. The contacts were bent up and to touch the outside of the port which seemed to short the whole machine out. Worked again went the contacts were moved but ruined the port >:-o

 

Just don't get the thinking, "Hmm wont go in, shall I turn it around or use brute strength the force it in, oh the machine has stopped working, shall I report it or just move machines and pretend nothing happened...."

[Gatt]

I used to get them regularly plugged into Ethernet ports...

[Grey-gear]

Yeah, to busy teaching stuff like PD. I remember PD being the biggest dose lesson on my timetable.

[SYNACK]

The problem with common sense is that it isn't common.

 

If it was there would not be a word for it, there would be a term for the lack of it. There isn't at least not in common use. I guess the term 'user' may be the closest ;D

[enjay]

This has led to pencil tips and other debris to become lodged in the USB stick

That should read "becoming".

 

I've never seen anyone burn themselves on a USB drive though - that is pretty serious! We've had plenty of drives stop working due to damage in bags/pencil cases, etc, so I always advise people to get drives with proper covers.