What measures are there for earthing people?

In an ESD protection zone, also known as an EPA (“ESD protected area”), the aim is to prevent electrostatic discharge sensitive devices (ESDS) from being damaged or even destroyed by uncontrolled electrostatic discharges. An ESD protection concept is drawn up for this purpose, which must also provide for earthing of personnel. ESD is the abbreviation for the English term “electrostatic discharge “.

In the context of personal earthing, the aim is to ensure that electrostatic charge in the body of an employee, supervisor or visitor is discharged in a controlled manner. This can be done in two different ways:

• Via an earthing contact in the socket outlet
• Via a separately laid protective conductor

In Switzerland, the earthing of the three-pin socket outlet works via the so-called earthing contact. This earthing contact is the middle pole in the socket outlet. It is also called the protective conductor or protective earth (PE).

If no socket outlet is available or if it does not meet the earthing requirements, a separate protective earth conductor can also be laid. This is earthed at its end via the connection to a so-called earthing lug, earthing rod or earthing spike. The earthing rod is usually made of galvanized steel or stainless steel and is between one and several metres long. For earthing, this metal rod is driven into the ground and connected to the protective conductor at its upper end.

An equipotential bonding system can also be used as an alternative to earthing. The purpose of earthing is to prevent uncontrolled discharges by discharging electrical charges. An equipotential bonding system has the same purpose, with the difference that no electrical charges are discharged.

More precisely, it is a potential equalization connection in which the electrical connection of certain elements prevents a potential difference and thus an uncontrolled electrical discharge from occurring between people and objects.

1. Put the earthing bracelet on your wrist
2. Connect the spiral cable to the push button on the earthing bracelet
3. Connect the other end of the spiral cable to the push button of an earthing module, for example

Earthing modules are earthing connections for the socket outlet. Thanks to the flexibility of the ESD spiral cable, its carrier has a certain amount of freedom of movement.

Another option for earthing is to use an ESD table mat, which has two press studs. The earthing wrist strap is connected to one of the two press studs on the table mat and a connecting cable is connected to the other press stud on the table mat, which is connected to an earthing module at its other end. In this way, the wearer of the earthing wrist strap, which is connected to the table mat, is earthed.

Table mats are particularly suitable for grounding people when working on devices with electrostatically sensitive components, for example in the manufacturing sector or during repairs.

If an ESD floor covering is present, the easiest way to ground yourself is to wear ESD shoes or shoes with a permanent heel strap or a disposable shoe grounding strip.

ESD shoes are designed in such a way that they dissipate the electrostatic charge in the wearer’s body into the floor in a controlled manner via the soles.

With shoe earthing straps, for example, a permanent heel strap can be used to earth the wearer of the strap via an ESD floor. Shoe grounding straps should always be worn on both feet to ensure constant grounding through constant contact with the floor.

For pumps, a wide-cut women’s shoe with heels, there are so-called permanent toe straps for the purpose of grounding.