Static Electricity 2000 Edition

6.6 Control of Static Charge on Personnel.
The human body
is an electrical conductor and can accumulate a static charge
if insulated from ground. This charge can be generated by
contact and separation of footwear with floor coverings, by
induction, or by participation in various manufacturing oper-
ations. Where ignitible mixtures exist, a potential for ignition
from the charged human body exists, and means to prevent
accumulation of static electric charge on the human body
might be necessary.
6.6.1
Steps to prevent charge accumulation include use of the
following:
(1) Conductive flooring and footwear
(2) Personnel grounding devices
(3) Antistatic or conductive clothing
6.6.2 Conductive Flooring and Footwear.
6.6.2.1
Conductive or antistatic flooring can provide effective
dissipation of static electricity from personnel. Materials can
be solid or they can be coatings that are selected on the basis
of wear characteristics, chemical resistance, and the floor area
that needs to be covered. Small areas can be handled with a
grounded metal plate. Typical resistance to ground for floor-
ing systems should be less than 10
8
ohms. Accumulation of
debris, wax, and other high-resistivity materials will compro-
mise the conductivity of the floor.
6.6.2.2*
Electrostatic dissipative (ESD) footwear, used in con-
junction with conductive flooring, provides a means to control
and dissipate static electric charges from the human body.
Resistance to earth through ESD footwear and floor should be
between 10
6
ohms and 10
9
ohms. For materials with very low
ignition energies, the resistance to earth through footwear
and flooring should be less than 10
6
ohms. Resistance can be
measured with commercially available footwear conductivity
testers.
6.6.2.3
Resistance of footwear can increase with accumulation
of debris on footwear, use of orthopedic foot beds, and
reduced floor contact area. Conductivity of footwear can be
tested on a periodic basis to confirm functionality.
6.6.2.4
Conductive footwear is footwear designed to have a
resistance to ground through footwear and floor of less than
10
6
ohms and is typically used where materials of low ignition
energy, such as explosives and propellants, are handled. Con-
ductive footwear should not be used where a possibility for
electrocution by line voltages exists.