Field Work

Field work is perhaps the most risky situation of handling ESD sensitive devices because of the uncontrolled nature of the environment. It is also often the most neglected aspect of ESD damage prevention.

The situation is risky as there are usually many potential ESD sources in the modern environment. A good awareness of ESD issues and practice is required if the risk from these is to be reduced with the minimum of portable equipment.

All field work must maintain the same standards and requirements specified for permanent EPAs in terms of training, material quality, labelling, packaging and personal responsibilities.

A field service kit (photo courtesey of Static Safe Environments Ltd. )

Any secondary non-ESD packaging is removed and discarded a safe distance from the working area. The operator, any temporary EPA work surface used, and the equipment must be electrically bonded together. Where practical they are grounded, usually to mains earth. The operator is grounded via a wrist strap.

A new pc board should not be removed from its ESD protective packaging until ready for insertion in to the equipment.

Any faulty circuit boards required for failure analysis must be packaged in shielding packaging if further ESD damage is to be avoided.