We are a global community of people who help others fix their electronics in community events. Through these events, we are trying to fix our relationship with electronics one device at a time. Anyone is welcome!
If you’ve got repair skills and would like to help people mend their broken devices, fantastic! We just ask that you read through and sign the safety guidelines below before getting stuck in. Most of this stuff is probably familiar to you, but a reminder never hurts!
We’ll also ask for your email address so we can send you a copy of these guidelines for your reference, and invite you to our growing online community.
Safety Guidelines
It’s really important that we consider safety when helping people repair their broken electronic items. There should always be a designated safety volunteer at every event, make sure you find out who they are before you begin repairing.
Set-up
- Extension leads must be taped to the floor where possible and kept out of the flow of foot traffic.
- Check with the hosts of a Restart Party before soldering. Ventilation is an issue in some venues.
- Hosts or the designated safety volunteer will locate and draw your attention to fire extinguishers and fire exits. If you miss this announcement, please inform yourself.
- A first aider will be identified as such when present.
Basics
- Children must be accompanied at all times by their guardians and kept an appropriate distance from chemicals, soldering and dangerous tools.
- When using blades or sharp instruments, always cut away from your body, and we recommend you use gloves.
- Be mindful when opening a device or using any force as bits may go flying (into someone’s eye). If this is a risk, ask for eye protection and/or move away from others.
- Careful with drinks! Do not not consume spillable drinks at repair tables.
Electricity
If you have any doubts or questions, find the host who will call over a designated safety volunteer
- All mains-operated devices must be PAT tested before you start a repair and on completion. For any old electrical device, always check that the wiring in the mains plug is to good standards.
- We do not repair a component of a device unless we are able to safety test the full device on the spot, nor do we repair power tools or high-wattage electricals. If in doubt, ask a host.
- Only repair mains equipment if you are competent to do so. To plug in a mains appliance, use an RCD or a dedicated mains isolating transformer. Use insulated tools.
- Beware of stored high voltage in capacitors, even a very long time after a device has been disconnected from the mains. Always test if they are charged with a voltmeter. If they are charged and you are not experienced in discharging them do not progress with the repair.
- Put the device back together before testing it under mains power. If you have to test device while it is both plugged in to the power network and dismantled, only do so with a second Restarter present.
- If you smell burning immediately unplug at the power plug and then assess the problem with our designated safety volunteer.
- Beware of rechargeable batteries. If shorted or abused, they can be toxic and a fire risk.
- If a device has been shorting out electrical circuits, connect the device only after being certain you have found and corrected the problem.
Using cans and chemicals
- Keep them away from any flame or direct sunlight.
- Do not spray flammable or volatile liquid on a live circuit or close to a soldering iron.
- Keep chemicals such as solvents far away from other people, especially children.
The Restarters Community: Not just repair events!