Static Electricity is capable of causing many undesirable effects during powder handling operations. Sometimes the problem is related to productivity or quality contral, sometimes it may cause unpleasant shocks for operators, however the more dramatic effects of static electricity are related to uncontrolled electrostatic discharges (incendive sparks) in potentially explosive (hazardous) atmospheres. The types of industries affected by these problems include chemical, pharmaceutical, paints, coatings, food and beverage, and the extent of the problem ranges from small scale unreported incidents, right through to devastating explosions causing injury or fatalities, lost production through plant downtime and other financial costs to the business. We are all familiar with the "nuisance" of static electricity in everyday life - the sharp shock we feel when we get out of a car or approach a metal filing cabinet, or the "crackle" we sometimes observe on clothing. However in potentially explosive atmospheres, the amount of energy contained in spark discharges from plant, equipment and even people may be sufficient to ignite many fine dusts produced during handling loose solids such as powder, granules pellets and flakes.
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