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Extreme ESD in the workplace

Catwell
Here is an accident waiting to happen. I shock myself every time I touch anything grounded in the engineering department. Even if I take a single step, touch anything metal, I get shocked. Once, I let the charge build for a while, and then I ground out, and I still feel the effects days later. If that is happening to me, you can imagine what that could be doing to circuits I put together.

The company's best effort to curb the issue is offering anti-static spray liquid to cover everything. Not the most effective, I trade marginally less shock of a greater degree of moisture on everything. I find this to be an insane alternative. So, I've stuck to being excessively cautions with my circuits. However, I will admit, I've shocked my circuits a few times.

This is a major issue, and I have had this same one at many jobs I have held. I'm sure I'm not the only having this problem. Unfortunately, my job's building was built 50 years ago and grounded, copper laced, carpet wasn't an option during the install. Is there anything I could do to fix this, at least for myself? One requirement,  I need to be mobile. I go from my desk to the lab often, and I usually carry my circuits with me.
 
Cabe

  • Hi Cabe,

     

    Why not use a grounding wrist-strap(Like the ones computer techs use) along with an anti static floor mat? This is the recommendation I've always seen. The floor mat isn't very mobile, but the wrist strap is and it offers a decent amount of protection. If you have the ARRL Handbook, one of the last sections in the book talks about setting up a shop and how to properly ground yourself and equipment to avoid these types of shocks.

     

    hth,

    Jorge Garcia

  • in reply to Jorge_Garcia

    Jorge,

     

    That is the tried-and-true method. Unfortunately, the company doesn't want to buy anything for me to set up my various areas properly.

     

    What I would like to do is wear some sort of spikes, cleats, to constantly "ground" myself. I doubt it would be effective though.

     

    Otherwise I would need to approach Telsa level wireless energy transfer. A personal "lightening-rod."

     

    Cabe

  • in reply to Catwell

    I had a problem with ESD in a Computer room I worked in a few years ago.

    I could get 5mm sparks after walking across the room.

     

    In the short term I solved the problem by removing my shoes.

    Apparently slightly damp socks have a lower dialectric constant than polyurethane. :-)

     

    It will be the very high resistance of your shoe-soles and the charge transfer as you move your feet on the carpet that allow your body to charge up.

     

    If you stick a drawing pin into the heel of your shoe and  wire it to a bit of metal foil inside the shoe with a 1M resistor this should be enough to discharge you without increasing your risk of electrocution from 240V mains faults.

     

    This will also allow people to instantly recognise you as an engineer. :-)

     

    TRM

  • Hi, I can understand the frustration this can cause especially in your line of work,

     

    I am presuming that your company has all the normal anti-static precautions in place but would like to check a few points,

     

    Do you were a white anti static overcoat / smock?

     

    Do you wear Jeans and a tea shirt or suit trousers and a Shirt & tie? ( Cotton Jeans and tea shirt can create static)

     

    Ask your company to invest in antistatic shoes and grounding eqiuipment for you, if they will go the extra mile an anti static chair

     

    I have experienced Jeans and nylon chairs to be one of the worst combiunations in the work enviroment

     

    I hope this helps

    Peter

  • Your company is being very myopic if they won't invest in adequate ESD precautions.

  • I think this is a really good topic to discuss. Is there any cheap solutions for hobbyist or professionals rather than buying expensive stuff or working and walking around naked image .

    This might be a simple setup like discharging yourself before starting to work on your bench. I really need one in my garrage.