Static Electricity Hazards

Hospital Operating Rooms Anaesthetic gases can be ignited with spark discharges that are produced from electrostatic built up on equipment and personnel in operating rooms.

Hospital Attire ‘ Scrubs’ Hospitals gowns are made out of a special material to reduce the amount of static build up. This material also minimizes the accumlation of bacteria (can be washed at higher temp and with harsher chemicals)

FYI: Crocs Crocs, the fashionable plastic clogs, could be banned from all hospitals because it is feared they interfere with life-saving medical equipment. The soles on the shoes are thought to generate static electricity which is strong enough to knock out respirators and machines in operating rooms.

Gas Pump Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuZxFL9cGkI

Gas Pumps Static build up can occur on clothing from friction of getting in and out of the car. This can ignite the gas fumes and cause a fire.

Gas Plant Factory Worker Leaking gas from pipes can ignite with spark if you are electrostatically charged https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKAhx4NdJTs Ways to minimize static build up Antistatic shoes Antistatic garments

Grain and Flour Mills / Silo Small air borne particles (e.g. fine powder like flour) can ignite easily with a spark from static electricity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRw4ZRqmxOc

Lightning Lightning is like static electricity but on a bigger scale. It is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge (spark) accompanied by thunder. Both static electricity and lightning happen because of the attraction between opposite charges (protons and electrons).

How Lightning is Formed

What causes lightning? Lightning is actually just static electricity on a much larger scale. The rubbing is caused by air moving around In thunderclouds bottom is usually negative and top is positive.