FLOWSTAR ESD HANDLING GUIDELINES

We have all seen Electro Static Discharge (ESD) in the form of lightning or perhaps felt the zap when reaching for a door knob. Similar types of electrical charges can have an effect on the electronic components you handle every day inyour work. Unfortunately, their effect is much more hazardous and not as readily apparent. Listed below arepreventative steps to use in dealing with static sensitive devices.

1. Be ESD awareness trained and certified.
2. Process ESD parts/assemblies at a certified ESD protected work station.
3. Wear a static neutral/dissipative smock covering all clothing from the waist up.
4. Wear a wrist strap, grounded smock, or foot strap on each foot
    (a wrist strap must be worn whileseated).
5. Test daily the wrist strap or foot straps and log results, or use a continuous-monitoring     system. If the testfails or continuous-monitoring alarm is set off, replace the discrepant
    strap immediately.
6. Verify wrist strap ground connection before exposing ESDS parts.
7. Keep bench mats clean.
8. Keep non-conductive ESD generating material and personnel items out of the ESD     protectedarea/workstation.
9. Essential materials/instructions shall be kept greater than 12 inches from exposed     ESDSdevices/assemblies.
10. Conduct taping operations in an ionized air stream.
11. Package and keep all ESDS devices/assemblies in static shielding bags or static shielding       covered toteboxes when not being processed. Shielded tote boxes used in a cleanroom       environment shall bewashed after each production order with a commercial grade cleaner.       Static shielding bags shall be free of tears or holes along any seam or surface. Exposed       metallized surfaces are functional when free of bare spots.
12. Move ESDS devices/assemblies between areas in ESD protective packaging or using a
      cart with adrag chain.
13. Never leave unprotected ESDS parts/assemblies unattended.
14. Protect failed parts from further damage by handling and packaging with the same care
      as a new part.
15. Pick up ESDS devices preferably by the body of the component instead of by the leads and       only when grounded at an ESD protected work station. Whenever possible avoid activities
      that result in sliding ESDS devices on surfaces or against one another.
16. Under no circumstances touch an operator that is holding an ESDS device/assembly. Transfer       of ESDS items shall be accomplished by placing the item on the grounded work surface and
      then picked up by the second grounded person.
17. Make certain “visitors” to the area comply with ESD requirements.
18. When the relative humidity has been determined to be <30%, stop work and place all       ESDSdevices/assemblies in protected packaging until informed that the humidity has
      increased to >30%.
19. Computer and oscilloscope screens shall be placed a minimum of 24 inches from exposed       ESDSdevices/assemblies.
20. Report any discrepancies or non-functioning protective devices and any condition that may       compromisethe ESD program to a supervisor or lead.