How can charging by contact be dangerous

Whether you need assistance with evaluating an electrostatic ignition risk or determining the sensitivity of a flammable atmosphere to ignition by any specific electrostatic discharge, we are here to help.

Our team of specialists, with unmatched expertise and operational experience, can offer cost-effective electrostatic consulting services and pragmatic advice to issues pertaining to electrostatic hazards and operational problems. An electrostatic hazard analysis is a FOCUSED process safety hazard analysis covering the usual examination of likely fuel sources, ignition sources, incident likelihood and consequence, as well as hazard control measures.

However, the electrostatic hazard analysis focuses on hazards that can be caused by static charge generation, build up, and discharges. We bring our experience of performing hundreds of electrostatic hazards analysis, globally and in a wide range of industries, to your facility to enable you to cost effectively identify and control electrostatic hazards.

Whenever any two surfaces contact and then separate, static electric charge is generated. In industry, static electricity is generated in many common processing operations, such as when liquids flow through plant or when powder particles contact the surfaces of processing and conveying equipment.

So, for example, processes such as powder milling, blending, and pneumatic transfer will frequently generate lots of static charge as will fast, turbulent liquid flow such as at tanker unloading or filtration. The main concern posed by static electricity in an industrial setting is the risk of fire and explosion due to the ignition of flammable atmospheres by electrostatic discharges.

Flammable gases, vapors, powders, and aerosols are common in processing operations and precautions are required to prevent their inadvertent ignition. Precautions against fire and explosion are many and varied, but an approach that should be included is the exclusion or elimination of potential electrostatic ignition sources from locations where flammable atmospheres may reasonably be expected to exist.

So, back to basics…. There are several different mechanisms that explain the generation of electrostatic charge. That tiny shock you feel is a result of the quick movement of these electrons. You can think of a shock as a river of millions of electrons flying through the air.

Pretty cool, huh? Static electricity happens more often during the colder seasons because the air is drier, and it's easier to build up electrons on the skin's surface. In warmer weather, the moisture in the air helps electrons move off of you more quickly so you don't get such a big static charge.

So, the next time you get a little shock from touching a doorknob, you'll know that it's just electrons jumping around. Think of it as putting a little spark in your life! Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. In this slideshow the man picks up electrons as he walks over the carpet:. The carpet is covered with electrons.

As the man walks, he picks up electric charges. When they shake hands the electricity discharges through the woman, giving her a shock. Here are some examples of problems associated with static:. Anti-static sprays, liquids and cloths prevent the build-up of charge by allowing it to conduct away.