How Effective Are Products That Monitor Employees’ Use of ESD Control?

Published: August 29, 2012

For example, how useful is CYCLOPS, which can “see” if a worker is wearing his or her wristband appropriately?

—Lisa

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Lisa,

I am unaware of any products that employ radio frequency identification to monitor the use of electrostatic discharge (ESD) control products. CYCLOPS, from Transforming Technologies, utilizes IR range sensors to detect the presence of an operator. The sensor sends out a beam of light and detects when that light is reflected back. If an operator comes within 10 centimeters to 80 centimeters (3.9 inches to 31.5 inches) of the workstation without connecting his or her wrist strap, the resistance monitor sounds an alarm. I don’t know how well this system works, but you could certainly employ RFID for this task, by putting a transponder in the ESD control wristband and then detecting it within a foot or so. The solution would have to be engineered to achieve 100 percent accuracy, but I don’t see why that would not be possible.

—Mark Roberti, Founder and Editor, RFID Journal