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Ergonomics and ESD: ESD workstations protect components and boost your productivity
People spend an average of 8 hours at their workplace every day. It would, therefore, seem obvious that a good assembly workstation must do more than just protect against ESD – it also needs to provide an ergonomic working environment so as to keep the component safe and protect your employees’ health.
It’s not just the hazards associated with ESD assembly work that are invisible – like electrostatic discharge itself, health-related problems also often creep in under the radar, meaning you don’t notice them until later on when you suffer from back and joint pain. Maintaining a good posture prevents unhealthy and unnecessary movements, making flexible, ergonomically designed workstations an effective means of ensuring high productivity and component quality. Think ahead and prevent problems before they occur – choose an ergonomic ESD workstation and take all necessary precautions to ensure you’re protected as far as possible.
The simple way to set up an EPA safely
From individual tools for manufacturing components to the full set of equipment required for assembly and production work: we provide high-quality ESD tools, state-of-the-art personal protective equipment (PPE) and sophisticated workstation solutions.
1. Workstation
An ESD-protected workstation should be ergonomically adjustable. Electrostatic charges are dissipated via the work surface and a grounding cable so the workstation remains charge-neutral.
2. Storage/containers
Dissipative ESD shelves and containers for transporting and storing devices protect at-risk devices. Roller cabinets should have dissipative wheels.
3. Tool
You should use ESD-compliant tools to ensure safe handling of your devices.
4. Personnel grounding
People are the main source of electrostatic charges. Shoes and wristbands with grounding cables are mandatory for employees working in electronics production. Wristband and shoe testers make it easier to check that the EPA is working properly each day. Chairs and standing stools should also have ESD protection.
5. Markings
Floor markings identify ESD-protected areas. Signs and labels are equally important in signalling potentially at-risk devices and assemblies.
6. Floor
The floor should be dissipative and meet the limit values specified in DIN EN 61340-5-1. When cleaning ESD floors, use only cleaning products that do not build up layers to ensure the discharge properties remain within the desired range. If only individual workstations are set up as an EPA, ESD floor mats or panels with grounding can also be fitted, provided they are clearly marked.
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Minimal ESD protection
Example applications: mobile work; temporary workstations for repairs, inspections, minor assembly work
- Dissipative table mat, connected to the building’s grounding system by a shuttered contact socket.
- Wristband, connected to table mat
Advanced ESD protection
Example applications: repackaging small parts, sample construction workstation, minor assembly work, activities where storage and tools are required.
- Dissipative work table with grounding component (connected to on-site grounding)
- Wristband and connecting cable, connected to the grounding component
ESD stand-alone solution
Example applications: separate electronics workstation in Development, repackaging workstation in Logistics, station for ESD-critical assembly work in production lines, maintenance.
- Dissipative work table with grounding component (connected to on-site grounding)
- Wristband and connecting cable, connected to the grounding component
- Dissipative floor mat (connected to on-site grounding)
- Dissipative work chair or ESD shoes (when working standing up)
ESD protected area = EPA (recommended variant)
Example applications: assembly lines, laboratories, production lines, logistics, development.
- Dissipative work table with grounding component (connected to on-site grounding)
- Wristband with connecting cable, connected to the grounding component
- Dissipative work chair or ESD shoes (when working standing up)
- Dissipative floor covering (connected to on-site grounding)
- Signs and floor markings
- Measuring station for access control
Choosing the right equipment for your EPA
ESD tables: the building blocks of any EPA
Not all tables are the same, and that’s especially true if you don’t want to take any chances when it comes to electrostatic discharge. Work tables that have special ESD protection dissipate electrostatic charges via the work surface and a grounding cable, meaning ESD tables remain charge-neutral. High-quality ESD tables are able to protect both your employees’ health and your electronic components. Take advantage of this versatility in your company and select from a wide range of ESD tables. You also benefit from plastic parts such as cover caps, which are also not conductive.
Naturally, our ESD tables are very sturdy designs, meaning they’ll last for many years to come.
ESD flooring provides a safe and sturdy footing
It’s easy to sum up the benefits of our modular ESD flooring – it’s safe, of course, but also looks good and can be laid efficiently. This flooring provides the best possible protection when manufacturing or repairing electronic parts, components and end products. ESD flooring keeps workers in Assembly departments and laboratories safe. The hard-wearing floor covering consists of grounded PVC panels and ensures that all necessary discharge resistances are adhered to. Whether you’re responsible for the Assembly department or a technical buyer, you can keep things simple when purchasing and laying the flooring – simply include the ESD panels in your planning and adjust the quantity as required. You don’t need to worry about industrial trucks such as pallet or forklift trucks either, as the ESD floor panels are some of the hardest available.
ESD floor mats provide maximum safety
If workers need to step on to a mat to perform assembly or quality assurance work or their duties as service technicians, this indicates that they need to take care as there is a risk of ESD. That’s why handy 135 x 100 cm floor mats that are quick to deploy are available for smaller Electrostatic Protected Areas.
Whether it’s for electronics production, the medical sector, the chemical industry or areas where flammable materials are used: this versatile ESD floor mat can handle it all and reduces the risks to people and appliances alike. It is oil-resistant, provides insulation against cold, reduces the risk of slipping and combats fatigue in the joints and muscles of your legs and feet, which in turn improves your ability to concentrate and enables you to work more effectively. Naturally, this professional floor mat can also easily cope with swivel work chairs and dripping solder.
ESD tape and signs clearly mark out EPAs
This eye-catching equipment is bound to turn heads – and that’s precisely the point! Electronics production workers need to know clearly when they are getting too close to a critical Electrostatic Protected Area. Our ESD equipment is unmissable and consists of hard-wearing floor marking tape that is resistant to cleaning agents, along with a matching sign.
The high-visibility yellow tape with the ESD logo and arrows clearly marks out the EPAs in your Production department, whereas the red tape makes it clear that you’re leaving the EPA. It’s as simple as it is safe. The tape is 7 cm wide and printed on the back, which makes it resistant to abrasion. The matching sign to identify the EPA measures 30 cm x 50 cm and comes in German or English – both are real head-turners.
ESD table mats provide the ideal basis for safe working
ESD table mats can quite happily be left lying around on the tables.
Just like an ESD table, an antistatic ESD table mat can also prove a real boon when working with sensitive electronic components. This non-slip and heat-resistant antistatic mat is grounded and made of particularly hard-wearing material. It’s a real all-rounder as it discharges static electricity and thus prevents electrostatic charges from building up. What’s more, the material is also largely resistant to soldering irons, which makes it durable and means there is no black residue after making contact with the silver in the solder.
There’s only one thing that an ESD table mat doesn’t like: dirt. So make sure to clean it regularly for consistently good component quality and a long service life.
ESD wristbands combine maximum freedom of movement with excellent grounding
Our entirely metal-free ESD wristband is an amazing little thing. When it comes to assembling electronic components, style needs to go hand in hand with function – which is why this attractive ESD wristband also packs a punch when it comes to its features. When contact is made with an electrically conductive material, ESD wristbands discharge static electricity over the wearer’s body without them noticing. The only thing the wearer needs to do is ensure the ESD wristband is in constant contact with their skin. To make this as easy as possible, the ESD wristband is comfortable to wear and barely noticeable as the wearer goes about their day-to-day work. And to ensure the wearer has the greatest possible freedom when working with the wristband, the grounding set not only contains the wristband made of conductive plastic, but also a flexible spiral cable that connects the wristband with the grounding source. It ensures the electrostatic charge goes exactly where it needs to: into the ground.
ESD chairs put you in the driving seat when it comes to comfort and safety
If you want to make efficient progress, sometimes all you need to do is stay seated. Sitting in your chair may have been a real bugbear when you were in school, but as an assembly worker, it’s now a real relief. The right ESD chair enables you to prevent electrostatic discharges and work efficiently. An ESD chair helps you to adopt the correct posture, so you can make efficient progress when performing assembly work or testing electronic components. You’ll also find that it helps with back problems, as a good ESD chair is of course ergonomically adjustable and swivels. Good ESD chairs have hard-wearing seat padding and handy high and slim backrests. They also come with five castors, and it goes without saying that all other parts are made of ESD-conductive material to reliably prevent electrostatic charges. So you can sit back and relax in the knowledge that potential ESD risks have been mitigated.
Staying mobile in EPAs
ESD-conductive roller cabinets are ideal for use in electrostatically sensitive areas (EPA) with a conductive floor covering. Their electrically conductive wheels negate the need for a separate grounding connection, which makes them simple to use.
These roller cabinets have been designed to handle extensive discharges. All plastic parts are conductive, which effectively prevents the build-up of surface charges. This type of design provides all-round protection and minimises the risk of electrostatic discharge.
Thanks to the ESD-conductive features of the roller cabinet, it can not only be used safely in EPAs with a conductive floor covering, the sophisticated design of all components also reliably prevents electrostatic incidents.
NEW: Safe cleaning with the ESD-Cleaning Wall and ESD cleaners
The ESD-Cleaning Wall from GARANT Uni Linie is a very sturdy double-walled column made from sheet metal. The sturdy base plate permits easy set up and movement. The perforated panels can be used on both sides for attaching various perforated panel accessories as well as Easyfix hooks and holders, for example the ESD easyBin recycling collection bin and ESD open storage bins.
For ESD maintenance and cleaning, we also recommend the ESD handbrush and dustpan set
made from volume conductive plastic and the ESD sweeping broom
.
The ESD cleaner Clean-STAT
thoroughly cleans all surfaces. In the process, it maintains their conductivity and leaves no insulating residues behind. ESD cleaning wipes
are washable at 90 °C, can be sterilised and are lint free.
Do you have any questions? We would be pleased to advise you on the right ESD products for you
We provide you with everything from a single source:
- We would be pleased to help you choose the right products in line with your ESD inspection plan
- We can provide the help you need to set up your EPA as stipulated in your ESD inspection plan
You can find an explanation of the key terms relating to ESD/EPA here:
To ESD glossary