DVD-76C ESD Control for Non-Manufacturing Personnel

DVD-76C ScriptOur next topic is static fields. Static generating material can affect ESD sensitive devices. Whatwe’re talking about are common plastics such as hair brushes, plastic safety glasses, pens andtape dispensers; paper products; and styrofoam cups. These types of non-conductive materialstend to generate and hold static charges – thereby creating electric fields.The way this works is that when a charged object such as these plastic safety glasses is broughtclose to an ESD sensitive device, the electric field causes charge separation in the ESD sensitivedevice. If the ESD sensitive device then comes in contact with a conductive item while exposedto the field, the device can be damaged. Therefore, don’t bring these types of materials into ESDsafe areas, or if you must have them in the area, keep them away from electronic assemblies.Even your clothing can generate and hold static charges. It’s important that you don’t stand tooclose to a workstation containing ESD sensitive devices. Your company will have an assigneddistance – usually one to three feet.How do you know that a component or an assembly is ESD sensitive? You don’t really.Therefore, it’s a good practice to assume all electronic components and assemblies are ESDsensitive. That way, there won’t be unexpected problems.Our last topic has to do with becoming a member of the ESD police. Our motto: to protect andserve. When you’re out on the production floor, you can practice your powers of observation. Beon the lookout for unsafe ESD practices.Does everyone have on his or her personal grounding equipment? Aside from shoe grounders,operators seated at workstations should be wearing wrist straps. Your company may requireconductive smocks. Is everyone wearing one? Are they worn properly? Are workstations free ofstatic generating materials? Are visitors properly supervised and wearing shoe grounders? Do yousee another activity that could produce an ESD event?Let’s take a look at these scenes from the production floor. Can you recognize the unsafe ESDpractices? This person isn’t wearing any personal grounding equipment. In this case, the ESDsensitive items being transported aren't protected.Here, an operator is passing an unprotected assembly too close to an unprotected video monitor.At this workstation, there are non-conductive items near to the ESD sensitive components. Byrecognizing and reporting unsafe ESD practices, you directly affect the quality of the productsyour company produces.This program has presented the details of ESD control for non-manufacturing personnel. First, wediscussed static electricity and took as look at how poor ESD practices can affect electroniccomponents. Then we discussed personal grounding; the rule about touching product; staticfields; and concluded with an offer to join the ESD police.ESD control is everyone’s responsibility – even when you don’t work in production. You need towear the appropriate equipment and observe the rules for safe ESD practices. In this way, you canmake a difference.