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Document No.: COM-00-05-16 June 2006, Revised June 2014
Version: C.1
ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD) PRECAUTIONS
Static electricity can damage electronic circuitry, particularly low voltage components such as the
integrated circuits commonly used throughout the electronics industry. Therefore, procedures
have been adopted industry-wide which make it possible to avoid the sometimes invisible
damage caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD) during the handling, shipping, and storage of
electronic modules and components. Siemens Industry, Inc., Rail Automation has instituted these
practices at its manufacturing facility and encourages its customers to adopt them as well to
lessen the likelihood of equipment damage in the field due to ESD. Some of the basic protective
practices include the following:
•
Ground yourself before touching card cages, assemblies, modules, or components.
•
Remove power from card cages and assemblies before removing or installing modules.
•
Remove circuit boards (modules) from card cages by the ejector lever only. If an ejector lever is
not provided, grasp the edge of the circuit board but avoid touching circuit traces or components.
•
Handle circuit boards by the edges only.
•
Never physically touch circuit board or connector contact fingers or allow these fingers to come in
contact with an insulator (e.g., plastic, rubber, etc.).
•
When not in use, place circuit boards in approved static-shielding bags, contact fingers first.
Remove circuit boards from static-shielding bags by grasping the ejector lever or the edge of the
board only. Each bag should include a caution label on the outside indicating static-sensitive
contents.
•
Cover workbench surfaces used for repair of electronic equipment with static dissipative
workbench matting.
•
Use integrated circuit extractor/inserter tools designed to remove and install electrostatic-
sensitive integrated circuit devices such as PROM’s (OK Industries, Inc., Model EX-2 Extractor
and Model MOS-40 Inserter (or equivalent) are highly recommended).
•
Utilize only anti-static cushioning material in equipment shipping and storage containers.
For information concerning ESD material applications, please contact the Technical Support Staff
at 1-800-793-7233. ESD Awareness Classes and additional ESD product information are also
available through the Technical Support Staff.
