How should the metal part of a wrist strap be used during computer servicing?

The metal part of a wrist strap should make contact with your skin at all times to ensure that you are properly grounded while servicing a computer. This action helps to prevent the buildup of static electricity, which can discharge and potentially damage sensitive computer components. By keeping the metal part in contact with your skin, you create a low-resistance path for any static charges to dissipate safely to ground, reducing the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD) that could harm the hardware.

It's crucial to remember that maintaining grounding during work on electronic devices is vital for the safety of both the technician and the equipment. When working without adequate grounding, there’s a significant risk of ESD-related damage, which might not immediately be evident but can lead to failures over time. Hence, ensuring that the wrist strap makes continuous contact with the skin is a best practice in protecting valuable electronic components.