Which safety procedure should be used to prevent static electricity damage when servicing electrical equipment?

• A. Grounding strap
• B. Lockout tagout
• C. Anti-static spray
• D. Insulating mats

Answer: (B)

Preventing static electricity damage when servicing electrical equipment hinges on keeping you at the same electrical potential as the equipment so that any built-up charge is safely dissipated. A grounding strap provides a direct path to ground, equalizing your potential with the equipment and draining static charges as you work. This minimizes the chance of a sudden electrostatic discharge that could harm sensitive components.

Lockout tagout is about preventing unexpected energization by isolating energy sources and posting tags, which is crucial for worker safety but does not control static electricity. Anti-static spray can help reduce surface charge, and insulating mats can help limit charge buildup, but neither reliably dissipates static charges in real-time like a grounding strap does. So, using a grounding strap is the most effective single measure to prevent static electricity damage during servicing.