Static Generation by Personnel / Static Electricity in Body

Main keywords for this article are Static Generation by Personnel, Static Electricity in Body, static charge.

Static Generation by Personnel / Static Electricity in Body

Human body frequently accumulates a dangerous static charge (5,000 volts common, 20,000 volt maximum) generated by contact of the shoes with floor coverings, or by participation in various manufacturing operations. Workers shall not wear rubbers, rubber boots, or rubber-soled shoes in a hazardous area. Leather-soled shoes, after slight use, generally will have a resistance of less than 1 mega ohm measured between a hand-held probe and a conductive plate (both feet in contact). Due to the nature of the operation being performed, it may be desirable to ground the operator directly with wrist bands connected to ground, have the operator wear ‘leg stats’ which provide a bypass connection around shoes, have the operator stand on grounded metal plates or special conductive rubber mats. Where personnel wear such protective devices and have any possibility of contacting an electrical circuit, there shall be a resistance in series with the grounding device to afford shock protection. A value of 500,000 ohms is satisfactory for exposure voltages up to 550 volts.  

Where the static problem is one involving personnel discomfort, for example metal handrails door knobs and carpeted areas, nonmetallic shields or guards may be provided to prevent contact with metal parts, or use of metal parts may be avoided.

Personnel working on electronic circuit boards may accumulate sufficient static charge to damage these devices. The circuit board is normally shipped in a static shielding bag. A grounding wrist strap can be worn by personnel handling the circuit boards to protect them from damage.

Main keywords for this article are Static Generation by Personnel, Static Electricity in Body, static charge.

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Main keywords for this article are Static Generation by Personnel, Static Electricity in Body, static charge.