Static - the Hidden Health and Safety Enemy

19.02.07

“Meech has been involved in providing static control solutions for over 40 years.” explains Meech's David Rogers, Meech’s in-house Health and Safety expert. “Originally, our main focus was to improve productivity and profitability in industry by reducing static charge build up on processed materials machinery. This resulted in less waste, rejects and downtime and the control of static was very much seen as a quality problem. This quality issue is still a major focus but we are now seeing health and safety concerns being discussed more openly. We have been working closely with companies and their Health and Safety departments to help reduce the hazard risk from static discharges and prevent operators from suffering static-related shocks. ”

Shocks in the Workplace

Many people have experienced the uncomfortable feeling of an ‘electric shock’. Activities as harmless as closing a the car door, pushing a trolley around the supermarket or closing a the dishwasher door can result in the discharge of more than 10,000 volts. However, as the current flows for such a short time, it is unlikely that any serious harm will occur.
 

In a factory environment, a machinery operator may receive a shock directly from the product they are working with or become charged through induction. Induction occurs when they are standing in the electric field of a charged object, such as operators in a converting plant, adjacent to a plastic web during the unwinding and rewinding process. The charge builds up until the operator touches an earthed part of the machine and then discharges, resulting in a shock. As mentioned before, it is unlikely to lead to case any serious harm, but if the shock is strong enough to cause a recoil reaction, then accidents may occur as the operator collides with a colleague, with a machine frame or stumbles into the path of moving other machinery resulting in injury.

Eliminating the risk of static shock is important to avoid injury and to show due care and attention to staff welfare. There are, however, other underlying aspects.  Firstly, when someone receives a shock, then the machine has to be stopped to investigate the cause. This will result in downtime and lost production. Should the shock be strong enough for the recipient to require receive medical attention, then the machine cannot be restarted again until it has been is checked by Health and Safety experts. Production can be further affected if these shocks are occurring to operators on a regular basis as people will intuitively work at a slower pace, if they perceive themselves to be at risk of a shock. No one likes to experience pain and the constant threat of shocks will result in a dissatisfied and unhappy workforce. Also, in the modern age, then a company’s failure to “provide a safe working environment” may result in legal action.

Eliminating Static from the Workplace

In the past, it has been difficult to control reduce static. Special products such as conductive wristbands and floor mats are available but have proved impractical in areas where the work force needs to move around.  

Meech provides a range of static control antistatic equipment that provides effective ionising solutions for the prevention of shocks. The Meech range of ionising blowers is used widely throughout industry for this purpose  Including benchtop, worksurface and overhead versions, Meech blowers within the range are all specified for a high level of performance and functionality, securing the workforce a comfortable and static-free environment. At one manufacturing site in Birmingham, the installation of a Meech ionising blower over a workstation has resulted in a 50% increase in productivity. “The employees are working harder and faster and downtime has reduced as there is  no longer the threat of shocks.” says David Rogers. “It’s a win-win situation for the company and its employees.”

Other Safety Risks with Static

There are other health and safety aspects to be considered, including the increased risk of fire or explosion, especially in processes using flammable liquids. More sophisticated static control antistatic solutions are required needed such as those provided by the use of a Pulsed DC and EX (explosion-proof) systems. Meech International can supply the best possible advice to suit all scenarios.

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