Electrostatic Discharge (Esd) - Welch Allyn Spot Vital Signs LXi Service Manual

8 Safety Summary

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)

Electrostatic discharge is a sudden current flowing from a charged object to another
object or to ground. Electrostatic charges can accomulate on common items such as
foam drinking cups, cellophane tape, synthetic clothing, untreated foam packaging
material, and untreated plastic bags and work folders, to name only a few.
Electronic components and assemblies, if not properly protected against ESD, can be
permanently damaged or destroyed when near or in contact with electrostatically charged
objects. When you handle components or assemblies that are not in protective bags and
you are not sure whether they are static-sensitive, assum that they are static-sensitive
and handle them accordingly.
• Perform all service procedures in a static-protected environment. Always use
techniques and equipment designed to protect personnel and equipment from
electrostatic discharge.
• Remove static-sensitive components and assemblies from their static-shielding bags
only at static-safe workstations - a properly grounded table and grounded floor mat -
and only when you are wearing a grounded wrist strap (with a resistor of at least 1
megohm in series) or other grounding device.
• Use only grounded tools when inserting, adjusting, or removing static-sensitive
components and assemblies.
• Remove or insert static-sensitive components and assemblies only with monitor
power turned off.
• Insert and seal static-sensitive components and assemblies into their original static-
shielding bags before removing them from static-protected areas.
Always test your ground strap, bench mat, conductive work surface, and ground cord
before removing components and assemblies fromtheir protective bags and before
beginning any disassembly or assembly procedures.
Welch Allyn Spot Vital Signs LXi