Electrostatic is the result of contact between two materials — one positively and the other negatively charged. Most people are familiar with minor shocks experienced when touching something metallic like a door handle. The likelihood of this increases in low humidity conditions and when the individual is wearing, walking on or otherwise exposed to conductive materials.
The stakes are higher in environments that incorporate sensitive electronic components or explosion hazards, where electrostatic build up and discharge can cause considerable harm to both workers and sensitive electronic equipment and components. There are two key spheres in which operations and safety managers aim to mitigate the adverse effects of static in the workplace:
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD) in and around sensitive electronic components and equipment
- Prevention of explosion from static discharge in volatile environments or applications, generally referred to as ATEX
