It is accepted that each day throughout Europe a static related incident causes a serious fire or explosion, whilst in the UK alone; HSE statistics suggest that some 50 such incidents occur each year. Apart from business interruption costs resulting from lost production, these incidents may also cause serious injury to people and damage to plant and the environment, as well as the possibility of legal action and the bad publicity for the organisation concerned.
Conductive (metal) plant items and equipment run the risk of accumulating dangerous levels of static charge if they are not properly earthed. Using purpose designed, Ex certified static grounding clamps is one of the safest and most cost effective methods of ensuring plant equipment and people are protected from static ignitions in potentially flammable or explosive atmospheres. Common mobile items of plant equipment such as drums, vessels, containers and even people have sufficient electrical capacitance to accumulate high levels of electrostatic charge. This stored energy can then be released in the form of a static spark with enough power to ignite numerous vapours and gases, as well as fine airborne powders and dusts. The greater the capacitance the higher the energy that can develop, so large objects like road tankers or IBCs pose even greater hazards.
This article highlights international standards, recommended practices and discusses the safety benefits of a controlling the risk of static ignition by using a purpose built grounding clamp.
https://www.newson-gale.co.uk/campaigns/pc10-20-enews-as01-clamp
