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Electrostatic Hazards

Electrostatic hazards can cause fires and explosions in environments with flammable materials like solvent vapors or dust clouds. Static electricity is difficult to detect, quantify, and control but can ignite fires and cause other industrial problems like production issues. It can also cause nuisance shocks to personnel in some environments. Recent changes to lifestyles and buildings have altered the electric field and charged particle environments people are exposed to. This may influence health more than previously understood by affecting biological functions and retention of inhaled contaminants. Improved electrostatic hygiene protocols could benefit both health and work productivity.

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49 views1 page

Electrostatic Hazards

Electrostatic hazards can cause fires and explosions in environments with flammable materials like solvent vapors or dust clouds. Static electricity is difficult to detect, quantify, and control but can ignite fires and cause other industrial problems like production issues. It can also cause nuisance shocks to personnel in some environments. Recent changes to lifestyles and buildings have altered the electric field and charged particle environments people are exposed to. This may influence health more than previously understood by affecting biological functions and retention of inhaled contaminants. Improved electrostatic hygiene protocols could benefit both health and work productivity.

Uploaded by

shubham97
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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.

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