Walking, kneeling, shaking, handling plastics - many tasks generate frictional electricity simply through movement. If this energy is suddenly released, a flammable mixture of air and dust or gas can ignite and cause an explosion. According to the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV), the operator of a plant is responsible for protecting employees from this danger.

Employers have a duty

"Persons working in potentially explosive atmospheres must not be electrostatically charged in accordance with the Hazardous Substances Ordinance. In this case, the workwear is classified as PPE, i.e. personal protective equipment. It must therefore meet the general requirements for protective clothing in accordance with ISO 13688 and the antistatic function in accordance with the European standard EN 1149-5," explains Silvia Mertens, Head of Product Management Sales at Mewa. The majority of protective clothing collections offered in textile sharing now have an antistatic component in the fabric. The antistatic effect is created by a special thread in the fabric - usually a polyester-carbon composite - which can dissipate existing charges. Mertens emphasizes: "The protection of the woven-in antistatic function lasts as long as the clothing. It is not necessary to reapply it after washing."

Caution with "all-rounder" PPE

For effective protection against electrostatic charge, PPE must consist of a combination of jacket and trousers and must always be worn closed. Equally important are dissipative footwear and dissipative floors. In working environments with a particular risk of explosion, protective clothing must not be changed or put on and taken off. The Technical Rule for Hazardous Substances TRGS 727 "Avoidance of ignition hazards due to electrostatic charging" applies to create safe working conditions. Mertens says: "I recommend first precisely assessing the risks at a workplace via the risk assessment, then prioritizing them and then defining the criteria for the protective clothing accordingly. This allows you to select PPE that protects against exactly the hazards that actually exist in the workplace." Clothing that combines a large number of protective functions is often not as effective as the special version with regard to individual hazards.

Areas of application with fire hazard

Electrically conductive protective clothing that complies with the EN1149-5 standard is often required in companies that have to comply with the European explosion protection directive ATEX (Atmospheres Explosive). Mertens: "In order to meet the requirements of different industries and areas of application, we combine the anti-static function in the PPE lines with heat and flame protection, chemical protection or both protective functions. With functional cuts and different fiber substrates, this results in eight different Mewa PPE lines - for example for electricians and mechatronics engineers, tanker drivers or the chemical industry." Mewa offers its customers textile sharing for workwear and protective clothing. The PPE is delivered directly to the customer's premises, collected after use and professionally maintained. The service provider takes over the inspection and maintenance of the protective clothing so that the protective functions are still guaranteed upon delivery after the care process.