- August 9, 2019
-
Valiant Technology - 2 min
As your Technology consultants, we at Valiant are happy to provide our expertise on a number of topics. However, it is rare that we are able to provide a solution to an issue that
- exists in every office
- can cause catastrophic failure*
- is incredibly inexpensive to solve
Yep, I’m talking about your damaged, worn, and frayed cords. Perhaps your office chair rolls over it constantly, or you were overzealous when cutting zip tie cable management, or your cable is just old as memes from The Office. If you are guilty of this very common IT infraction, it may be time to pull the plug.
*It’s rare but possible. Why take the risk?
The Risks
- Fire Hazard – Those power cords and other electronics have a resistant coating that among other things prevents sparks from flying. Without it your damaged cords can be a fire hazard, striking when you least expect it.
- Electric Shock – Even low voltage cables can cause an electric shock when not properly insulated. It may not be deadly but it’s certainly unpleasant and can have more dire consequences (see above re: fire hazard).
- Damage to your devices – Broken or frayed cords can cause inconsistent signals and/or power. If this is a data cord, it can corrupt files in transfer if there is a failure. If it is a power cord it can cause shorts in your equipment. Even the lowest stakes, inconsistent power can make it difficult for your devices to build and maintain charge while plugged in.
- Optics – Perhaps this one disproportionately affects us IT people, but it looks bad if you have frayed cords around the office. Keeping desks neat and presentable includes not having a discolored, ratty cable.
A Quick, Cheap, and Easy Solution
It’s time. Buy a new cable to replace your damaged ones right now! You can buy from your favorite online retailer or contact your Customer Success Manager for recommendations or to obtain a quote.
After you replace your own cords, motivate your team to do the same. Some companies build this into their safety policies. Or you can do what I did: take pictures around your office and publicly shame them in an online knowledge base article.
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