Eliminating Spark Damage in the Workplace With Anti Static Casters

June 10, 2013

Ross Castors

Views

One of the most difficult issues facing business owners and labourers who work with heavy industrial devices is the risk of sparking. Sparking often occurs when a heavy piece of machinery is being moved; when the wheels on this machinery rub against the flooring, a weak electrostatic discharge often results.

Electrostatic discharge is more common than you might think. You may have experienced a form of it at some point, such as when you rubbed your bare feet on the carpet and touched something metal. This shock might have given you a jolt, but it can do much more damage to the machinery you are working with.

While the electrostatic release might not harm workers near the machinery by itself, it can create a domino effect that can be extremely dangerous. The spark may damage computer circuits within the machines, causing them to malfunction, and the malfunctioning machines result in a fire or workplace injury.

In addition to being dangerous to your employees, spark damage can also create a loss in production. Even if a spark only causes minimal damage to a machine’s circuit, this can still mean that production slows down or comes to a complete stop while the machine is repaired or replaced. Faulty hardware that initially goes unnoticed may result in flawed work that must be redone, taking up valuable time and money.

Preventing these problems is an essential part of making your workplace safe and efficient, and can easily be done with the use of anti static castors.

Anti static Castors to Prevent Spark Damage

Anti static casters are the perfect solution for reducing and even eliminating spark damage in the workplace. These types of caster wheels are generally made from a rubber material, which prevents electrostatic discharges from building up as the machinery is moved from one area to the next. This helps to prevent damage to microcontrollers, computer chips, or other sensitive electronics within the machinery. In addition, these casters also help to reduce vibrations, which can also cause electrostatic build-up.

While an anti static castor will often be used in manufacturing facilities for heavy machinery, they aren’t limited to these areas. Other locations can benefit from the spark prevention these castors provide as well, such as office spaces where computers and computer operated equipment are often used. While they are generally a bit more expensive than regular caster wheels, the upfront cost pays off in the long run as business owners are able to avoid costly repairs to equipment, the price of replacing machinery, and additional hours of work that must be accounted for when a machine malfunctions because of electrostatic sparks.

What Else Can be Done?

While an anti static caster will generally prevent electrostatic discharge from occurring, there are other steps your company can take as well to reduce the chances of experiencing the damage from this type of spark.

Monitor the humidity of the building; humid environments often result in higher instances of electrostatic discharge.

Make sure employees are not wearing any type of clothing or accessory that could conduct electric charge; this might include sweaters made out of wool or jewellery.

Zero Potential is a state in which there is no possibility for emitting electrostatic discharge. This state can be achieved by having workers continually touch an un-painted metal surface while working with machinery.

Electrostatic discharge can seriously impact the production of your workplace and even result in workplace injury. Make sure you are taking steps to prevent it with the help of anti static casters.