115 Electrical Safety for Employees: Basic

Sections

Static Electricity

Static electricity can also result in a shock, though it occurs in a different way and is generally less severe than the types of shocks described previously.

Static Electricity

Static electricity can build up on the surface of an object and under the right conditions, can discharge to a person. A common example is receiving a shock when touching a doorknob or another metal object on a cold, dry day.

However, static electricity can lead to shocks or discharges to objects with more severe consequences. For example, when friction causes a high level of static electricity to build up at a specific spot on an object, it can cause serious consequences. Such build-ups can occur through simple actions like handling plastic pipes and materials, or during the normal operation of rubberized drive or machine belts commonly found in many worksites.

In these cases, static electricity can discharge and potentially cause an explosion if there are sufficient amounts of flammable or combustible substances nearby. To prevent such hazardous buildups of static electricity, grounding or other safety measures are often necessary.

Real-Life Accidents

Employee Burns Hand And Face by Static Electrical Spark

At 2:00 p.m. on November 16, 2018, an employee placed a metal cut off/on tool on an ungrounded plastic pipe where static electricity had built up during the purge process. The employee set the gas line on fire when he touched the metal tool and the static electricity sparked, setting the plastic pipe on fire. The employee sustained burns to both hands and his face. The employee was hospitalized.

Employee Receives Static Electric Shock, Later Dies

On May 6, 2010, a 39-year-old employee received a static electric shock, after she contacted a plastic film roll line on which static electricity had built up and was not dissipated prior to contact. Employee #1 died after life support was discontinued.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-9. Why is static electricity a serious potential hazard?

It can cause a fire or explosion

It can surprise the worker causing an injury

It can disrupt neurological pathways

It can result in unintentional impact

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