Static electricity can cause a number of serious issues in the workplace. From damaging sensitive electrical components to causing full blow explosions, a buildup of static electricity can put employees, products, and equipment at risk.
Electrostatic discharges (ESD) can vary in size from small, barely noticeable electric shocks, to lightning strikes. One of the main dangers of static electricity is that it’s silent and invisible, making it very difficult to detect until it’s too late. Preventing the buildup of static is the best way to avoid sudden electrostatic discharge and protect employees and sensitive equipment from harm.
In the majority of industries, the most effective way of preventing the buildup of static is to wear anti-static workwear. These garments are specifically designed to help static dissipate harmlessly into the ground or air and to stop charges building up to dangerous levels.
What Causes a Build-up of Static?
Static buildup can occur for a number of reasons. Often, it happens when two surfaces rub together. For example, when your sleeve brushes repeatedly against your table, you shuffle your feet along a rug, or your clothes slide up and down on your chair. This can cause an imbalance in the number of electrons in the different surfaces and result in one or both becoming charged.
You can easily experience this type of static charge by rubbing a balloon on your clothing and then holding it up to your head. Your hair will instantly begin to lift towards the balloon as it’s attracted by the static charge.
Other things that can cause a build-up of static electricity include:
· Contact and separation between two materials (including friction)
· Rapid heat change (for example, when a material is heated quickly by passing it through an oven)
· High energy radiation, UV, X-ray and intense electric fields
· Cutting action
· Induction (standing in an electric field that’s been generated by a static charge)
When surfaces become charged, it leads to a difference in electrical potential. This can then result in an electrostatic discharge, or ESD. A large ESD can be dangerous for both people and electronics, and even minor events can seriously damage sensitive equipment.
There are some factors that can increase the chances of static buildup and make ESD worse when it does occur. These include low humidity, dry, hot air and air conditioning, all things commonly found in modern working environments.
Which Industries are Affected by ESD?
Electrostatic discharge can occur in pretty much any setting. It’s very common for people handling lots of materials to experience small ESD events and it’s also a regular occurrence for those working in transportation and manufacturing.
Most ESD events are very minor and won’t cause an issue for the employee or the equipment they’re working with. However, in certain situations – for example, when someone is assembling or operating very sensitive electronic equipment – it can cause considerable damage. In some cases, a large build-up of static can result in an explosion or more serious shock. This can be dangerous for employees as well as products and equipment.
Some of the most common areas and professions affected by ESD include:
- Electricians
- Electronics
- Engineering
- Mechanics
- Assembly
- Components handling
- Maintenance
- Utilities
- Warehouse
- Material handling
- Transportation
- Automation
How Can Anti-Static Workwear Help?
The best way to protect both yourself and the electronics you work with is to wear anti-static clothing. These specialist garments are specifically designed to dissipate static electricity. This stops static electricity from building up and prevents potentially dangerous electrostatic discharge.
Anti-static clothes are made from synthetic fibers that are good conductors of electricity. This ensures any static electricity that the wearer comes into contact with is distributed harmlessly through the body and into the ground, earth or air.
People working in professions where ESD is a risk can wear anti-static workwear on top of their everyday clothes. Jackets and hoods can be worn over other types of clothing to prevent a buildup of static. Alternatively, antic-static pants and shirts can be worn under cleanroom apparel to provide an extra layer of protection.
What Standards is Anti-Static Workwear Required to Meet?
When buying anti-static workwear, it’s important to check it meets certain safety standards. In the US, you’ll often see garments described as meeting ESD STM 2.1-1997 test methodology. This means that the item has been tested in accordance with the safety standards set by the ESD Association, a group that aims to set the global standards for static control.
ESD STM 2.1-1997 defines the standard test method used to evaluate the resistance of garments used to control ESD. It outlines two test methods that can be used to measure electrical resistance in a garment. One is the sleeve-to-sleeve method, the other is the point-to-point method. Anti-static workwear that meets this test methodology should provide a good level of protection against ESD.
A lot of anti-static workwear is designed to be multi-functional. For example, you can find items that provide protection against ESD and that are also suitable for use in cleanrooms and in areas where bacterial filtration and particulate and fluid resistance need to be controlled. Some ESD workwear may also provide protection against heat and fire.
Wearing anti-static clothing under or on top of your everyday clothes or cleanroom apparel will help to stop the buildup of static electricity and in turn prevent sudden electrostatic discharges. Wearing ESD clothing can therefore help to keep you, your colleagues and your equipment safe and ensure your workplace is properly protected.
Find out more about our anti-static workwear, and explore our collection of professional wear and industry-specific garments, by taking a look around today.
About the Author
Nick Warrick
Nick Warrick is the Sales Manager at All Seasons Uniforms. With over 15 years of experience in the work uniform business, he has worked with hundreds of clients across 20 different industries. Holding bachelor’s degrees in both Business Administration and Information Technology, Nick revamped the company’s online presence, offering its customers a new uniform shopping experience.