Name three tools that you can use to protect a system against ESD as you work on it?

ANSI/ESD S20.20 covers the requirements of an ESD control program.

The fundamental ESD control principles are:

- Ground all conductors, including personnel

- Insulators are high charging and cannot be grounded. Remove all non-essential insulators. Keep all process essential insulators at least 12" from ESDS or neutralize charges with ionizers

- Outside an EPA, ESDS are to be packaged in closed ESD shielding bags or covered containers having shielding properties

Grounding works great removing electrostatic charges. If opening a computer and handling circuit boards or electronics, the person should be grounded using a wrist strap connected to the ground of an AC electrical outlet or equipment ground. The ESD sensitive items should be placed on a grounded mat. A good tool to have is a Field Service Kit which includes a mat, a cord to ground the mat, and a wrist strap to ground the person.

If attachment to the ground of an AC electrical outlet is not possible, one can use equipotential bonding.

"When neither AC equipment [Equipment Grounding Conductor] or auxiliary grounds are available, an equipotential bonding system may need to be used. In this situation, all of the items in the system are bonded together so that the charge that resides on the elements will be shared equally and therefore there will be no potential difference between the items. Once this step has been completed it is safe to handle ESD sensitive parts without inducing damage. A real life example of this is often observed in office equipment field service operations. For safety reasons the service technician will often disconnect the AC power cord which detaches the equipment from ground. In order to safely install ESD sensitive products into the equipment, it is necessary to electrically connect or bond together the service technician, the equipment frame and the ESD sensitive product. Once bonded together an ESD event will NOT occur when the technician handles the product or installs it in the office equipment." [ESD Handbook ESD TR20.20-2008 section 5.1.3 Basic Grounding Requirements]