5.3 ESD Control Program

control is fundamentally about bonding every handler and every conductive surface to a 5.3.3Common GroundingPoint Ground (CPG). This architecture (is the quiet backbone)backbone of the program.

People Grounding Protocol

Operators are the largest source of charge, making people grounding the most critical daily check.

1. Tester Gate: All personnel must test their grounding hardware before entering the EPA. This test confirms the wrist strap, footwear, and the path to ground are within required resistance limits (typically $0.8$ M$\Omega$ to $10$ M$\Omega$ for the wrist strap).
2. Hardware Use: Wrist straps are mandatory when seated at a grounded bench. ESD footwear is mandatory for all handling and movement across dissipative EPA floors.
3. Visitors: Visitors must use supervised heel straps or wrist straps and handle components only under direct supervision.

Hardware and Workstation Standards

Every surface that touches an SSD must dissipate charge quickly and safely to ground.

• CommonGrounding point ground (CPG):Architecture: Every station mat, tool ground, and continuous monitor tiesmust totie into the same CPGCommon Point Ground (CPG) lug;lug, lugswhich bondis bonded to facilitythe facility's dedicated ground.
• Continuity:Surfaces: Shelves,Mats, carts,tabletops, and floors must be dissipative and continuously bonded to the CPG.
• Carts and Shelves: Metal or dissipative materials must be used. All carts and racks must have visible ground straps; verifyand their continuity verified monthly. Never use bare wood or cardboard as a primary surface.
• Workstation monitors:Tools: ContinuousSoldering wrist-strap/matirons, monitorshand preferredtools, atand high-usetweezers benches.must be
  ESD-safe models.

5.3.3 Handling the Un-Groundable: Shielding and Ionization

Not everything can be grounded (e.g., plastics, paper, films). These materials must either be shielded or neutralized with air.

Packaging Rules: Shielding is Transport, Dissipative is Inner Pouch

5.3.4 People grounding (entry checks that take seconds)

• Default: Wrist strap at benches; ESD footwear + ESD floor when walking/handling totes.
• Test at entry: Use the combo tester; pass sticker per shift.
• • Wrist strap: pass within your site limits (typical testers use ~0.8–10 MΩ window).
  • Footwear/floor: both feet pass within site limits (commonly up to 100 MΩ).
• Visitors: Use heel straps in EPAs; supervised handling only.
• Exceptions: During Hipot/safety tests (Part II), straps off by procedure; use insulating mats/cages instead.
  

5.3.5 Workstations, tools & surfaces (what “ESD-safe” really means)

• Mats & tabletops: Dissipative range; bonded to CPG; clean with approved solution.
• Soldering irons & tweezers: ESD-safe models, tip ground verified quarterly.
• Hand tools: Dissipative grips; no raw vinyl or fuzzy synthetics.
• Carts & shelves: Metal or dissipative laminate; no bare wood/cardboard touching components.
  

5.3.6 Materials handling & packaging (pick the right container)

Rule of thumb:Thumb: If ita component leaves anthe grounded EPA or passessits underexposed, anit ionizer,must be inside a shieldshielding itpackage..

5.3.7

Ionization (neutralizeNeutralizing Air)

Ionizers handle localized static charges yougenerated can’tby ground)

• When:When to Use: PlasticUse enclosures,ionizers lensabove films,benches, label liners, tray transfers,conveyors, or in dry winterenvironments airwhere causematerials exhibit nuisance nuisancestatic zapscling or clingzapping.
• Where:Maintenance: Point-of-use ionizers above benches; overhead bars over conveyors.
• Care: Clean emitterEmitter pins must be cleaned monthly;. verifyIonizer balance/performance (balance and decay rate) must be verified quarterly (targettarget: ±50$\mathbf{\pm V50\ V}$ balancebalance).

5.3.4 Compliance Oversight: Audits and fastTraps

A perprogram youris siteonly spec).as Aimgood airflowas acrossits theenforcement. work,Regular, lightweight audits ensure control does not degrade into trays.
background noise.

Simple Audit Schedule