List two safety practices essential when building and testing robotics hardware.

• A. Only work outdoors with wind.
• B. Wear PPE (glasses, gloves as appropriate) and de-energize circuits before servicing.
• C. Wear PPE but do not de-energize circuits.
• D. Share components without labeling.

Answer: (B)

Safety when building and testing robotics hardware centers on protecting people from electrical hazards and physical injuries by using PPE and ensuring circuits are de-energized before you work. Wearing the right PPE, like eye protection and gloves as appropriate, helps guard against debris, sharp edges, hot surfaces, and unexpected contact with moving parts. De-energizing circuits before servicing removes the risk of electric shock, short circuits, or unintended machine motion, and it’s important to consider stored energy in capacitors or springs that could surprise you even after you think power is off. Together, these practices create a safer environment for hardware work. Options that skip PPE or skip de-energizing introduce clear safety gaps, and sharing unlabeled components can lead to confusion and mistakes.