Improving safety of electrostatic processes through consensus standards

Electrostatic processes are active in many industrial settings. As hazards they result in fire, explosion, and electrical shock. They augment manufacturing processes to yield improved production or reduce contamination. In some cases a manufacturing process may depend upon electrostatic processes to operate. In industry, many voices are represented in determinations of what actions are productive, safe, and financially viable on the plant floor. In the United States consensus standards are developed to guide work in industry with similar intent. At the standards level, representatives from manufacturers, users, research, insurers, trade associations, etc., consider guidance for safety committees and others who might have authority over electrostatic processes. It is the purpose of this paper to introduce you to the work of one consensus standards group - the National Fire Protection Association's Technical Committee 77: Static Electricity - and how consensus-standards development benefits from the work of the IEEE-IAS Electrostatic Processes Committee.