ESD is the abbreviation for electrostatic discharge.
In layman’s terms: an electrical event that takes place when two objects with different electrical potential make contact or are positioned closely enough for a spark to discharge from one surface to another. ESD events occur when people walk across various forms of flooring, then touch or approach computers and other static-sensitive electronic devices.
ESD should not be identified solely by shocks or zaps. Although shocks and zaps are ESD events, they are the result of at least thirty-five hundred (3500) volt discharges. An ESD event as low as 20 volts can disrupt electronic components. Because of this extremely low voltage, an event can go completely undetected.
ESD in the Workplace: Generating a Static Charge
