According to Desco Industries, electrostatic discharge (ESD) can change the electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device, degrading or destroying it entirely. ESD could also potentially damage electronic systems, causing equipment failure. Furthermore, static energy can be found all around us and even the smallest discharge can cause irreversible damage.
Greg Barron.
For this reason, personnel training is crucial. There is no use in implementing state-of-the-art ESD equipment if the personnel who work within the ESD Protected Area (EPA) are not complying with industry standards within your facility. Your investment will be wasted and ESD occurrences can still take place daily. According to Desco Industries, there is significant evidence to support the contribution of training to the success of an ESD control programme:
Fundamentals of ESD training
• Successful training programmes involve all employees who work in the EPA. Train all employees who work with ESD susceptible items in the EPA and ensure they know how to test their grounding equipment, such as wrist straps, upon entry and while working.
• Effective training is comprehensive and consistent. Training should cover specific ESD prevention procedures but should also explain the physics of the problem and the benefits of the programme. Each employee must have a firm grasp of the fundamentals of ESD, as well as the details of the organisation’s ESD control programme plan.
• Use a variety of training tools and techniques. Collaborative training is a good way to convey the importance of your ESD control programme. Live, in-house instructors, training videos and interactive workshops are sure-fire ways to ensure personnel actively take part in the training and understand why it is important.
• Test, certify, and retrain. Testing and certification not only show that employees have a firm grasp of ESD control procedures, but also motivate them to adhere to these standards. Retrain personnel periodically to reaffirm and refresh their knowledge.
Through our static control division, Altico, Actum Group specialises in ESD control within the working environment. Contact us on +27 11 608 3001 or sales@actum.co.za to enquire about our cleaning solutions.
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