Overall Comprehensive ESD Control Programme Required Use ESD Control Products Correctly or You Can Do More Harm Than Good ©Copyright 2017 DESCO EUROPE 04/17

Improve Operations with ESD Control Effective ESD control can be a key to improving: - productivity - quality - customer satisfaction Many companies buy ESD protective products or equipment and then misuse them, often causing more harm than good

Protection Required Throughout The Cycle “manufacture, process, assemble, install, package, label, service, test, inspect or otherwise handle electrical or electronic parts, assemblies and equipment susceptible to damage by electrostatic discharges.”

Prevent ESD catastrophic failures & latent defects Latent defects in components by definition will not be detected so products will pass normal inspections In hospitals, the defense against an invisible threat is extensive contamination control procedures including sterilization

Discipline Required Basics of ESD control are fairly simple: Ground conductors Remove, convert, or neutralise insulators with ionisers Shield ESD sensitive items when stored or transported outside the ESD protected area

Ionisers poorly maintained & out of balance Problem: Ionisers putting charges on ungrounded items Solution: Clean ioniser emitter pins and filters on a regular maintenance schedule. Consider using Ionisers with “Clean Me” and/or “Balance” alarms

Maintenance / Cleaning “All ionisation devices will require periodic maintenance for proper operation. Routine service is typically required to meet quality audit requirements.”

Ionisers - airflow cooling worker, so turned off Another Problem: Ioniser with heater placed at worker's feet to warm feet Solution: Employee training

Training Required “...initial and recurrent ESD awareness and prevention training shall be provided to all personnel who handle or otherwise come into contact with any ESDS items. The training shall include an objective evaluation technique to ensure trainee comprehension and training adequacy.”

ESD Garments not grounded Solution Ground via: Cord to snap at wrist Hip-to-cuff allowing hands free operation via ESD footwear / floor [using wrist band or conductive cuff] Or use regular Smock

Ground All Conductors Including ESD Smocks “the garment should be electrically bonded to the grounding system of the wearer so as not to act as a floating [conductor]”

ESD Smock loses ESD properties Solution: Periodic checks as ESD garments will eventually wear out

Periodic Checks “To maintain process control, it is imperative that the garment be tested [recommended electrical resistance range is 1 x 105 ohms to 1 x 1011 ohms.] The point-to-point and sleeve-to-sleeve resistance test should be made.”

No Test Equipment Problem: No test equipment available or not in calibration to check ESD protective products Wasting Money - Buy items - Install items - Have no idea if working correctly Characteristics wear workstations get moved ground cords get disconnected.

Solution: “A Compliance Verification Plan shall be established Solution: “A Compliance Verification Plan shall be established. Test equipment shall be selected to make measurements of appropriate properties.”

Totes Not Covered, Bags Not Closed ESD Packaging to provide shielding completing “Faraday Cage” Solution: Use conductive tote covers to close conductive totes or labels to close ESD shielding bags to prevent ESD damage to ESDS items

ESD shielding bags re-used even when having holes and scratches Solution: Use a system of labels to identify when the bag has gone through five (5) handling cycles. When there are five broken labels, the bag is discarded.

Reusable Packaging “Shielding bags and containers also may fall into this category as long as the metal layer may be tested for continuity, integrity, or shielding performance.” And “Packaging… may also lose static shielding properties by crumpling, puncturing and folding.”

ESD mat or laminate not grounded Problem: ground snap on the mat is loose or ground cord has become disconnected. Solution: Many companies use a daily checklist, which includes assembler verifying that ground cords are firmly connected

Compliance Verification Plan Periodic Checks Charges removed to ground only occur if the ESD worksurface is actually connected to ground. Should use firm fitting connecting devices such as metallic crimps, snaps Measure quarterly Rg most worn area to equipment ground

ESD Floor Problem: Dissipative floor measures high (1010 ohms Rp), floor is dirty, or there is an ESD Floor or ESD footwear but not both

Compliance Verification Plan Periodic checks will determine maintenance schedule. Charge on person, best not generate a charge in the first place RTG most worn area to equipment ground

Need Both ESD Floor & ESD Footwear “ESD protective flooring, used with approved footwear, may be used as an alternative to the wrist strap system for standing operations.” It is wasteful to spend money: - on ESD footwear and no ESD Floor - on ESD Floor and no ESD Footwear Dirt is typically insulative

Use Household Cleaners on ESD Mats Problem: Silicone creates “shine” but is insulative reducing grounding performance Solution: Clean ESD worksurfaces only with approved ESD surface and mat cleaners Don’t spend extra money on ESD mats, and then coat with an insulative layer

Worksurface Maintenance Periodic Cleaning “Periodic cleaning is required to maintain proper electrical function of all worksurfaces. Ensure that cleaners used do not leave an electrically insulative residue common with some household cleaners that contain silicone.”

Wrist Straps Not Having Reliable Path-to-Ground Problems: Wrist band loose or over sleeve or dry skin Snap or jacks worn, fail minimum 1# disconnect Strain relief intermittent failures

Test Wrist Strap While Worn & Wiggling the cord resistor area Better Training Analysis and corrective action should take place when a wrist strap tester indicates a failure

Wrist Straps First Line of Defense “A log should be maintained which verifies that personnel have tested their personal grounding devices.” “Proper testing of the wrist strap includes ... the resistance of the person between the wrist and the hand that contacts the test electrode.”

Wrist Straps First Line of Defense “ Wrist Straps First Line of Defense “...the design requirements are considerable, given ... the durability requirements of constant tugging, flexing, and dragging over the edge of workstation tops and equipment chassis.”

Continuous Monitors Used & Ignored Just get beeping to stop. Analysis and corrective action should take place. “...if the products that are being produced are of such value that knowledge of a continuous, reliable ground is needed, and then continuous monitoring should be considered or even required.”

Common insulative items at the ESD workstation Buy ESD mats, wrist straps, etc. and allow radios, picture frames, purses, drinking cups, high charging regular packaging, document holders, binders & tape on the bench - Remove insulators - Use ESD versions - Keep minimum of 30 cm from ESDS items - Neutralise with ionisation

Remove Nonessential Insulators “All nonessential insulators, such as those made of plastics and paper (e.g. coffee cups, food wrappers and personal items) must be removed from the workstation. Ionisation or other charge mitigating techniques shall be used at the workstation to neutralise electrostatic fields on all process essential insulators if the electrostatic field is considered a threat.”

Use ESD Versions of Item “It should be understood that any object, item, material or person could be a source of static electricity in the work environment. Removal of unnecessary nonconductors, replacing nonconductive materials with dissipative or conductive materials and grounding all conductors are the principle methods of controlling static electricity in the workplace, regardless of the activity.”

Protect ESDS Item 90% - Get an F The list goes on: Operator cuts off Foot Grounder grounding tab Shelves not electrically connected Electrical outlet or power strip not wired correctly People entering ESD protected area are not using proper precautions People are "trained" but not tested to determine retention level Boundaries of ESD protected area not clear Etc

Waste Money Buy item - Don’t install or use properly Buy item - Never check if working Provide great protection in some areas, poor in others

Obtain financial returns up to up to 1,000% ROI! Turn the ESD Control programme into a competitive advantage Top companies improve: - productivity - quality - customer satisfaction Obtain financial returns up to up to 1,000% ROI!

Turn the ESD Control programme into a competitive advantage Not rocket science Requires knowledge, disciple, periodic verification Using ESD products as a comprehensive system