Shocking Fact of Life

Grzesik added, "[Static control] is needed to prevent operators from receiving painful shocks and having a potentially deadly reaction to receiving a shock, i.e. recoiling from a shock or falling off a catwalk into a set of large diameter rollers."

In addition to serious, harmful shocks, static electricity can be deadly around certain chemicals in the printing and converting processes. "Some printing and coating solutions are volatile solvents, and can be ignited by electrostatic discharges," explained Jay Perry, marketing manager of SIMCO Industries Static Control (Hatfield, Pa.). "These areas are generally classified as Class 1, Division 1, Group D environments by the National Fire Protection Association."