Collection: Desco

The two primary methods are:

• Wrist straps (typically used when seated or at a fixed workstation)
• Foot grounding systems (heel straps, toe straps, or ESD footwear used with ESD flooring for mobile workers)

Personnel grounding refers to safely connecting workers to ground to prevent the buildup of static electricity on their bodies. This is critical because even a small static discharge can damage sensitive electronic components, leading to latent or immediate failures.

The right combination depends on your environment, process, and level of ESD sensitivity. Here’s a simple guideline:

• Gloves:
  Use ESD-safe gloves when handling highly sensitive components or when you need to prevent both static discharge and contamination (oils, fingerprints). Ideal for assembly, inspection, and clean environments.
  
• Footwear / Foot Grounders:
  Best for operators who are standing or moving between workstations. These must be used in combination with ESD flooring or mats to provide an effective path to ground.
  
• ESD Smocks / Garments:
  Recommended when static generation from clothing is a concern. Smocks help shield sensitive products from charges generated by everyday clothing and are especially useful in environments with a lot of movement or non-ESD garments underneath.

In many cases, a combination of these products, along with wrist straps at workstations, provides the most complete protection. A well-designed ESD control program will define exactly what is required for each area of your facility.

Static damage can be far more serious than most people realize. Even discharges well below the level a human can feel (typically around 3,000 volts) can damage sensitive electronic components—sometimes at levels as low as 100 volts or less. This damage may:

• Cause immediate failure of a component, or
• Create latent defects that pass testing but fail later in the field

Both scenarios can lead to costly rework, product returns, and reliability issues.

Grounding prevents the buildup of static electricity on your body, which can discharge into sensitive components when you touch them. When you are properly grounded, any static charge is safely dissipated to ground in a controlled manner—protecting PCBs and components from electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage during handling, assembly, or inspection.

Daily testing for wrist straps and foot grounders is recommended, along with periodic audits of the overall ESD control program to ensure compliance and effectiveness.

Most standards recommend a total system resistance (including the person, device, and ground path) of less than 35 megohms. Always refer to your internal ESD control plan and applicable standards for exact limits.

No. ESD footwear requires a properly grounded ESD floor or mat to complete the path to ground. Without it, the system will not function effectively.

Foot grounders dissipate static electricity by creating a path from the person, through their footwear, to a properly grounded ESD floor or mat. Both feet should be grounded for maximum effectiveness.

The conductive band should be worn snugly against bare skin (not over clothing), ensuring full contact. Loose or improperly worn straps will not provide effective grounding.

Yes. Wrist straps should be tested regularly (daily or before each shift) using a wrist strap tester to ensure proper functionality, including good skin contact and correct resistance levels.

A wrist strap creates a direct electrical path from the operator’s skin to ground, typically through a coiled cord connected to a grounded point. This allows static charges to safely dissipate.

• Use wrist straps when working at a stationary workstation where consistent grounding is required.
• Use foot grounders or ESD footwear when operators are standing or moving between workstations.