Grounding the Work Area

To prevent static damage at the work area, use the following precautions:

Cover the work surface with approved static-dissipative material. Provide a wrist strap connected to the work surface and properly grounded tools and equipment.

Use static-dissipative mats, foot straps, or air ionizers to give added protection.

Handle electrostatic sensitive components, parts, and assemblies by the case or PCB laminate. Handle them only at static-free work areas.

Turn off power and input signals before inserting and removing connectors or test equipment.

Use fixtures made of static-safe materials when fixtures must directly contact dissipative surfaces.

Keep work area free of nonconductive materials such as ordinary plastic assembly aids and Styrofoam.

Use field service tools, such as cutters, screwdrivers, and vacuums, that are conductive.

Recommended Materials and Equipment

Materials and equipment that are recommended for use in preventing static electricity include:

Antistatic tape

Antistatic smocks, aprons, or sleeve protectors

Conductive bins and other assembly or soldering aids

Conductive foam

Conductive tabletop workstations with ground cord of one-megohm +/- 10% resistance

Static-dissipative table or floor mats with hard tie to ground

Field service kits

Static awareness labels

Wrist straps and footwear straps providing one-megohm +/- 10% resistance

Material handling packages

Conductive plastic bags

Conductive plastic tubes

Conductive tote boxes

Opaque shielding bags

Transparent metallized shielding bags

Transparent shielding tubes

68 Chapter 5 Routine Care, SATA Drive Guidelines, and Disassembly Preparation