MENU
Toggle navigation
Products
Pump & Bottle Sets
Cone Top Bottles
Wash Bottles
Trigger Sprayer Bottles
Flux Dispensers
One-Touch Dispensers
Glass Bottle
HDPE (High Density Plastic) Bottle
Tin-Plate Bottle
Lasting-Touch Dispensers
HDPE (High Density Plastic) Bottles
Glass Bottles
Pure-Take Locking Dispensers
HDPE (High Density Plastic) Bottle
Glass Bottle
Tin-Plate Bottle
Pure-Touch Dispensers
Glass Bottle
HDPE (High Density Plastic) Bottle
Take-Along Locking Dispensers
HDPE (High Density Plastic) Bottle
Glass Bottle
Twist-Lock Locking Dispensers
Black Pump
Purple Pump
White Pump
Pump & Bottle Accessories
Replacement Stems
Bottle Closures
Replacement Needles
Pumps Only
Lasting-Touch Pump
One-Touch Pump
Pure-Touch Pump
Pure-Take Locking Pump
Take-Along Locking Pump
Twist-Lock Locking Pump
Bottles Only
HDPE (High Density Plastic)
Blue durAstatic®
Green durAstatic®
Orange durAstatic®
Pink
Purple
White (No Colors Added)
Yellow durAstatic®
Badge & ID Holders
Color Badge Holders
Clear Vinyl Badge Holders
Shielded Badge Holders
Arm Badge
Badge Reels, Lanyards, & Strap Clips
Cable Management
Cable Control
Connector Covers & Dust Caps
Circular Connectors
D-Sub Connectors
Document Holders
With Zipper
No-Zipper
Drinking Cup
Fume Extractors
Series II System (1-2 Operators)
Complete System
Accessories
Replacement Filters
Hand & Power Tools
Cleaning Brushes
Conductive (Black Bristles)
Dissipative (Yellow Nylon Bristles)
Circuitracer™ Continuity Tester
IC Tube End Plug Extractor
Probes & Spudgers
Nylon
Steel
Wood
Screw Removal Pliers
Sleeve & Tubing Cutter
Small Nut Starter
Tool Storage
Wire & Harness Threader
Lotion
Probes, Spudgers, Soldering Aids
Double Ended Soldering Aids
Orange Sticks
Probes and Spudgers
Soldering Aid Kits
Soldering & Rework
Desoldering Braid
Lead-Free
One-Step
Quick Braid
Sea Braid
Solder Tip Cleaners
Stencil Rolls & Wipes
DEK
EKRA
MPM
YAMAHA
Vacuums
Blow Vac
ESD Service Vacuum
HEPA Vac
Workstation Organizers
Overstock & Clearance Deals
EasyBraid Products
ID & Vinyl Products
MENDA Pump Dispensers
Specialty Tools & Accessories
Workstation Organizers
Vacuums
ESD Products
ESD Liquid Dispenser
ESD durAstatic® Bottles Only
ESD Badge Holders
ESD Brushes
ESD Cable Control
ESD Conductive Connector Covers
ESD Drinking Cup
ESD Flux Bottles
ESD Fume Extractor & Accessories
ESD Lotion
ESD Workstation Organizers
ESD Document Holders
ESD Testers, Probes & Tools
ESD Vacuums & Accessories
ESD Clearance & Overstock
Beau Tech Products
Cleaning Brushes
Double Ended Soldering Aids
Hand Tools
Orange Sticks
Probes and Spudgers
Soldering Aid Kits
EasyBraid Products
Desoldering Braid
Stencil Rolls
Solder Tip Cleaners
WickGun Desoldering Braid Dispenser
Badge & ID Holders
Clear Vinyl Badge Holders
Color Badge Holders
Document Holders
Horizontal Badges
Vertical Badges
Proximity Card Badge Holders
Multi-Card Badge Holders
Shielded Badge Holders
Event Badge Holders
Flap Closure Badge Holders
Zipper Closure Badge Holders
Arm Badges
Badge Reels
Strap Clips
Lanyards
Resources
Videos
REGISTER / LOGIN
SHOP
RPL
CART (
0
)
Questions And Answers
#
1137
List All Questions
Search
List by Category
Question
Can Field Service personnel ground themselves by holding a grounded pole while working with ESD susceptible items and not have to use personal grounding items such as a Wrist Strap?
Answer
No, and not be in compliance with ANSI/ESD S20.20. ESD susceptible item Field Service work requires a temporary ESD Protected Area where all S20.20 requirements should be met.
Most important is the safety of the worker. Directly grounding personnel can be a safety hazard and is not approved by either OSHA or Underwriters Laboratory without at a minimum one megohm resistor in series with the human body. Per S1.1-1998 paragraph 7.1 Construction Guidelines Current-Limiting Resistance “A resistance of sufficient resistance to limit current to less than 0.0005 amps (O.5mA), at the highest voltage that may be encountered, should be incorporated into the wrist strap.” The argument that “I am not wearing a Wrist Strap” so I don’t need the current limiting resistor” is not persuasive.
The worker’s hand in contact with a grounded pole would not comply with S20.20 paragraph 6.2.1.1. Grounding / Bonding Systems Requirement that “Grounding/Bonding Systems shall be used to ensure that ESDS items, personnel and any other conductors (e.g. mobile equipment) are at the same electrical potential. As a minimum, ESDS items, personnel and other related conductors shall be bonded or electrically interconnected.” Paragraph 6.2.1.2. Grounding / Bonding Systems Guidance states “When the third wire AC equipment ground is not available or impractical to use, personnel should be bonded or electrically connected to a conductive element of the ESDS item using a wrist strap or other grounding system to ensure that all elements are at the same electrical potential.”
A fundamental ESD control principles that form the basis of S20.20 is: “All conductors in the environment, including personnel, must be bonded or electrically connected and attached to a known ground or contrived ground (as on shipboard or on aircraft). This attachment creates an equipotential balance between all items and personnel. Electrostatic protection can be maintained at a potential above a “zero” voltage ground potential as long as all items in the system are at the same potential.”
Per Paragraph 6.2. ESD CONTROL PROGRAM PLAN TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS “Area 2 shown on Table 1 is intended to designate temporary ESD controlled areas such as field service or other remote locations that are not normally equipped as a Protected Area. Test methods used by the organization that differ from the test method or reference in Table 1 shall be documented.”
Per Paragraph 6.2.2.2 Personnel Grounding Guidance “The personnel grounding system in all cases includes the person, the control item(s) and connection to ground… When equipment ground or auxiliary ground systems are not available, bonding or electrical connections (contrived ground) may be used.”
Per Paragraph 6.2.3.1. Protected Areas Requirement “Handling of ESDS parts, assemblies and equipment without ESD protective covering or packaging shall be performed in a Protected Area.”
Per Paragraph 6.2.3.2. Protected Areas Guidance “A Protected Area may be a single workstation (fixed or portable).”
Related Categories:
Field Service
Grounding
If you have found this Q/A useful, please rate it based on its helpfulness.
This question has been rated:
(
100
% at
1
Ratings)
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Review our
Cookies Policy
for more information.
Accept