Always wear safety glasses when working with electronics. Jewelry can conduct electricity and should be removed. Wear shoes with rubber soles. The rubber will help prevent shocks by keeping electricity from flowing through you into the ground.
A soldering iron is used to connect electronic components to a circuit board. The iron melts solder, which conducts electricity and holds components in place. Solder often creates smoke, so work in a well ventilated area. When you are applying solder, sometimes it will stay on the tip of the iron. Do not try to shake it off. Solder should always be wiped onto a wet sponge. Make sure capacitors have discharged before soldering and do not attempt to solder electronic devices that are still connected to a power source. When setting down the soldering iron, always place it in a stand. Laying the iron down on your workbench is a major fire hazard. According to Richard Rebstock of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, solder contains lead and you should always wash your hands after using solder to avoid lead poisoning.
When working with electronics, always unplug the device. Even if it's a quick fix you've done several times before, it's not worth the risk. Slight mistakes can serious harm to you, the device, or your work area.
Keep your work area clean. The risk of fire when working with electronics is greatly increased when your work area has a mess that the flames can spread to. Avoid keeping flammable objects like paper anywhere near your workbench. Food and drinks should be kept away from your work area. Lead poisoning is caused by ingestion, which makes it dangerous to keep food near solder. Water conducts electricity, so spilled drinks can ruin electronic devices and cause shock injuries.
The dangerous nature of electricity makes it important to understand what you're capable of handling. Many household electronics use a lot of electricity and can cause serious injury if something goes wrong. Cathode ray tubes found in older televisions and computer monitors can explode if you make a mistake. When you're worried about not having enough experience to handle a complicated device, call a professional.