Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Cleaning-Supply Disposal
Some of the cleaning supplies used on IT equipment can be hazardous to the environment.
Most of the really nasty stuff is associated more with the manufacturing of electronics than
with its everyday use, but it still pays to be careful.
You should be able to fi nd disposal instructions on the container of any cleaning
chemical. There are different rules in different regions, so check the label. For example, in
the U.K., the Control of Substances, Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations describe
how hazardous substances are to be used, stored, and disposed.
Rather than put complete disposal and handling instructions on the packaging, some
products refer you to a material safety data sheet (MSDS) on their website. The MSDS
explains what hazards are present in the item, and it dictates the proper disposal and
handling of the item.
EXERCISE 10.1
Explore Your Recycling Options
1.
Use the Internet or your local phone book to fi nd organizations that will accept old
computer parts.
2.
Contact the company or agency to fi nd out whether there is any charge for their service,
what types of equipment they take, and what they do with it.
IT-Related Laws
Discussing the law is challenging because there are signifi cant differences depending on
where you live. Not only do different countries handle IT laws differently, but so do different
states and provinces within the same country.
For the U.K. version of the Strata exam, you need to know about some specifi c pieces of
legislation applicable to the EU and the U.K. This topic isn't on the U.S. version of the exam.
Data Protection Directive
The Data Protection Directive is an EU directive that regulates the processing of personal
data within the EU. Its purpose is to protect the privacy and human rights of citizens by
limiting the ways their personal information may be shared. For example, it ensures that
medical professionals are unable to share data with insurance companies.
Some of the key points of this directive include the following:
Data can be used only for the purpose for which it was collected.
Data can't be disclosed to anyone else without the permission of the data subject,
except where other laws create an exception, such as in crime prevention or detection.
