Electrostatic Hazards

Electrostatic Hazards Uncontrolled static electricity is responsible for a large number of serious industrial fires and explosions around the world every year. Any environment in which sensitive flammable media are present is at risk and statistics indicate that due to increased process speeds, finer powders and higher purity fuels & solvents, the problem is growing. Static electricity is difficult to detect, quantify and control. In addition to the threat of ignition, static can cause a host of other industrial problems often resulting in production difficulties, quality issues and expensive shutdowns. Static electricity can cause fires and explosions where flammable atmospheres such as solvent vapours or dust clouds can occur. In other environments, static electricity build-up on personnel can cause nuisance shocks. In some cases these could become a Health and Safety issue, for example where hot fluids are being handled and a static shock could cause inadvertent recoil.

Electrostatics in the environment: How they may affect health and productivity Jamieson, K. S.; Simon, H. M. Ap; Bell, J. N. B. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Volume 142, Issue 1, pp. 012052 (2008). Lifestyles and the built environment have changed considerably during the past century and have greatly influenced the electric field, small air ion and charged submicron aerosol regimes to which individuals are often exposed. In particular the use of electrical items, synthetic materials/finishes and low humidity levels that can lead to the generation of high electrostatic charges, along with inadequate grounding protocols and building techniques which create 'Faraday cage'–like conditions, have all greatly altered the electromagnetic nature of the microclimates many people occupy for prolonged periods of time. It is suggested that the type, polarity and strengths of electric fields individuals are exposed to may affect their likelihood of succumbing to ill-health through influencing biological functioning, oxygen-uptake and retention rates of inhaled submicron contaminants to a far greater degree than previously realised. These factors can also influence the degree of local surface contamination and adhesion that occurs. It is further suggested that both health and work productivity can be affected by such factors, and that improved 'best practice' electro-hygiene/productivity protocols should be adopted wherever practical.