A human being is one of the main generators of static electricity. It is the reason why there are equipment and garments that are needed to be worn by the personnel. Walking around or doing motions can already generate electrostatic charge on the body. To avoid experiencing any problems or damages, below are some of the products that must be used by the personnel as part of the ESD Singapore control programs that must be strictly implemented.
Wrist Straps
One of the important ESD protection equipment that must be
worn by people who are working in a clean room is the wrist straps or bands.
Grounding personnel must wear the wrist straps all the time especially if they
are near the ground potential. If the personnel properly wear it and he is
connected to ground, there will be no discharge that will happen between the
person and the grounded objects. The discharge is often hazardous that is why
it must be prevented. Because of the wrist straps, the static charges will be
removed and will not accumulate any of the static charges to ensure that the personnel
will be safe. The wrist straps or bands is made out of two components including
the wristband itself that is worn by the person on his wrist and the other is
the ground cord which is connecting the wristband to common ground.
Flooring
Another ESD protection material that can be brought from
clean room suppliers are different types of flooring materials including mats,
floor finishes, and flooring. The personnel must wear ESD control foot
grounders to ensure his safety. The footwear as well as the floor materials
that can be conductive or dissipative can provide safe ground trail for the
personnel. These materials can reduce the charge accumulation by dissipating of
the electrostatic charge. Aside from what the footwear can do, other ESD items
such as floor materials can also lessen the tribo-electric charging. However,
these types of items do not make a huge impact for all activities that are
needed to be done by personnel. But it is really recommended especially the
complete flooring and footwear materials if personnel mobility is needed.
Accumulation of charge from mobile equipment, lift trucks, and chairs will
lessen because of the floor materials. Footwear such as foot grounders, static
control shoes, and casters and wheels must be used with ESD flooring to come up
with the necessary electrical contact between the flooring and the object or
person.
Garment
The
types of clothing that is used in ESD protective areas can be classified into
three categories namely ESD category 1 garment, ESD category 2 garment, and ESD
category 3 garment. These categories are in line to meet the garment standard
and keep everything work well inside the environment. The ESD category 1
garment means a garment that can control static without the need to be attached
to ground. This type of garment must not be used in an activity that charged
source must be prevented. It is because it the garment has no grounding, the
charge may accumulate on dissipative or conductive elements of the clothing.
The ESD category 2 garment is a garment that has a groundable static control
when it is connected to ground. It is used to provide higher level of
suppression, which can affect the electric field from clothing worn underneath.
The ESD category 3 garment is also a groundable static control garment which
can bond the skin of the personnel to the identified ground path.
