2. Causes of explosions and fires due to static electricity
2.1. Technical, managerial and organisational reasons
- The accumulation of electrostatic charge by products and equipment is in many cases directly associated with the processes and operations involved in industrial production. It represents a source of ignition that can be hazardous not only under normal circumstances, i.e. without any kind of plant upset occurring, but also under abnormal conditions.
- Changes are often made in the process and equipment or innovations introduced without taking into account the consequences in terms of the electrostatic charge accumulation, the ignition hazards posed by electrostatic phenomena and the probability of the presence of an explosive atmosphere.
- Often the measures taken to prevent electrostatic charge accumulation are of an organisational nature, such as ensuring that transportable equipments or containers are grounded. The reliability of these measures is therefore highly susceptible to human errors.
- The phenomena of electrostatics, e.g. induction, are not always easy to understand and therefore, to predict. An assessment of the dangers due to the accumulation of electrostatic charge requires a fundamental knowledge of physics plus experience in a process industry.