What is in an ESD Check List?

Hi,
What are ESD Checklist? Is it really included in this element? Two months ago, were been audited by one of our customer, and they were asking on how do we specifically check our ESD groundings and etc. Does this ESD checklist determines and make use on how do we audit some items for the ESD, e.g. on Protective flooring, smocks, shoes and the like? Please comment.
Thanks in advance.
Vash Stampede

[barb butrym]

An ESD check list? Just like any other checklist... alist of requirements to verufy.


There is a mil standard/handbook that details requirements for ESD sensitive material. You (your cusromer?) determine the level required for your product by design/reliability etc...IF you have to ask, it probably isn't very ESD sensitive??? What is the product and its typical uses?

The levels range from a grounded work site to a full system with deionizers and conductive flooring.....same goes for material used in the system....ESD dissapative to insulating...so the check list would vary accordingly.

There is a book out there (saw it at Barnes and Nobel and ASQ publications) called Auditing Cleanroom and ESD programs. Its about $25 and is a good resource...BEWARE..not all companies need to adhere to all the requirements !!!!!! As a matter of fact.. MOST need very little.

Typical minimum requirements could be a grounded worksite and equipment, verified periodically. A personal ground strap verified daily. And a work site 12 inches around the product clear of static generating stuff. Protective transport containers (as in a faraday cage?) and shipping material. And lets not forget warning labels......to remind everyone of the use of caution?

So the check list may say. What is the evidence of grounded workstations? How often are they verified? How are they verified (traceable to NIST?)? By whom? How was he/she trained? Is there an ESD training program? ARE the operators working current to this training? Do operators check their straps daily? What is the evidence? Pull a sample list of operators from the worksheets....are they checked in on the days they performed the work? Are packaging materials ordered to a specification? Are they verified? Is material that is reused verified periodically to see that the integrity of protective coating is still valid? Are ESD sensitive packages clearly labeled? Any scotch tape, general plastic/ cellophane at the work station? Styrofoam? Eating/drinking? Nylon clothing? Is material moved within an enclosed package? And so on.....

Any specific concers....ask away...one of my "training course offerings" so I won't be too far off base....

But again I caution you....impose only what is necessary for your product.

go to "http://esda.org/pdf_files/s2020std.pdf" for a free download



[This message has been edited by barb butrym (edited 21 November 2000).]

[David Mullins]

1. Ask the customer involved what systems and checklists they have with regards to Electro Sensitive Devices. If they don't handle printed circuit boards (PCB) directly, they won't have anything either.

When I was working with the US Air Force they had reg's and checklists for all this stuff. Check out their websites.

If you buy you PCBs, you should be asking your suppliers how they handle this topic. (this may even be why your second party audit was conducted in the first place - who knows?)

Electronic Engineers - If your manufacturing with PCBs you must have at least one kicking around the place who can set you on the right path. If not, (last resort) you could always get a consultant in who could assess the risks and advise on elimination/reduction strategies.



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You should be able to find everything you wanted to know about ESD from this page:
http://www.reade.com/Safety/esd.html

After the text at the top there quite a few links at the bottom.