HEALTH & SAFETY
WHY IS DISCHARGING STATIC ELECTRIC LOADS THE KEY FOR KEEPING AT-RISK WORKPLACES SAFE?
Injury and financial loss are among the serious consequences of static electricity in at-risk spaces, writes Berk Aydin, product manager at Sika. Flooring coatings that can discharge static electricity are proven to reduce the potential for such issues and create a safer working environment. But when and how should they be installed?
unseen when charging your cell phone - it is everywhere. In order to control this, it is better to understand why and how it happens. In simplistic terms, this static electric load is actually caused by the transfer of electrostatic charge during separation of two objects in contact. This rapid process, known as triboelectric charging, results in one object gaining electrons on its surface area to become negatively charged, whilst the other object loses electrons in the same area due to
W
e live in a world where static electricity pervades everything we do. Whether it is obvious, such as making your hair stand on end, or
being positively charged. In such instances, a small static electric shock may occur when a person comes into contact with certain objects. Although not critical in our daily lives, when
it affects the workplace one must ensure that this excess load is being properly discharged. Properly grounded Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) or Electrostatic Conductive Floor (ECF) floors ensure that not only your personnel are safe but also your equipment, workplace and even the products that you are producing are also protected. A person walking across a floor, for example, generates static electricity as shoes make contact and then lift from a floor’s surface. The same reaction may occur when a metal component or an electronic device slides into or out of a case or against another piece of equipment.
What are the risks?
If mitigating measures are not taken, the aforementioned electrostatic devices could be badly damaged or completely destroyed. The cause of which will be a potentially unseen, unfelt or silent ‘micro lightning’ spark that is known to occur without warning. Therefore, without controlled or preventative action, the resulting damage from these friction-based, electro- phenomena could cost the business concerned many thousands of pounds through equipment and operational losses or a workplace injury claim. Moreover, these little sparks may even
contribute to explosions, especially in the areas where explosive gases, vapours or dusts exist. Although the term ATmosphère EXplosible seems to be French, it stands for the acronym ATEX which describes equipment intended for use in explosive atmospheres.
hoW can my floor discharge the static electricity?
Sika’s conductive flooring systems contain special fillers and additives that collect the static electric load and distribute the load to the earthing system. Sika’s unique technology, Sikafloor Earthing Kit, contains the necessary components for up to 10 earthing points, to discharge an electrostatic charge when it occurs. Each earthing point contained within the Sikafloor-Earthing Kit can conduct approximately 300m² to earth, ensuring effective ESD coverage across large areas of at-risk workspace.
14 MAY/JUNE 2022 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE
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