Skip to content
Tilonasec
Industry guide

Electronics manufacturing occupational safety guide

In electronics manufacturing, worker protection and product ESD protection are separate requirements that must be aligned.

In short

Electronics manufacturing brings two separate requirements together: protecting the worker and protecting the product from electrostatic discharge. ESD clothing and footwear drain static charge so components are not damaged; solder fume extraction and eye protection, by contrast, protect the person. The two must be planned together.

Electronics technician handles a circuit board at a grounded ESD workstation
ESD control, cleanliness and dexterity must be planned alongside worker protection. The image is illustrative; selection must be tailored to local working conditions.

Where a good specification begins

What should be clarified first?

ESD clothing or footwear does not work in isolation; it forms a system with the flooring, grounding and test regime. Fine-assembly dexterity, solder fume, cleaning chemicals and maintenance may also create additional risks requiring separate assessment.

Typical risk areas

  • Electrostatic discharge affecting the product
  • Solder fume and splashes
  • Cleaning chemicals
  • Small components and prolonged seated work
Tilonasec specialists inspect ESD footwear, cut-resistant gloves and protective eyewear on an automotive production line
Build manufacturing kits by work cell, not from one plant-wide list.

Show us the work for a more precise quotation

A site photo or short video often explains more than a generic product list. It reveals the floor, working height, machinery and equipment worn together.

Where does the work happen?
Indoors, outdoors, in a wet zone, around vehicle traffic or at height.
How long is it worn?
For a full shift, a short intervention or only one defined work phase.
What is worn with it?
Helmet, eyewear, earmuffs, respirator and harness must remain comfortable and compatible together.

Which starting kit suits each role?

These are procurement starting points, not automatic PPE requirements.

Role Procurement starting point
Fine assembly operator Clothing and footwear integrated into the ESD system, with gloves supporting high dexterity.
Soldering workstation Eye and, where required, respiratory protection co-ordinated with local exhaust ventilation.
Laboratory and cleaning Gloves and eye protection verified for the substances used.
Maintenance technician Task-specific PPE kept separate from the normal ESD kit.

Expert product selection

Recommended products for your first shortlist

Start with relevant, easy-to-compare products selected for this working environment. Prices, availability and technical data are kept up to date.

View full category

0 products selected

Building blocks for the complete solution

Which markings are useful starting filters?

A standard marking can narrow the live product range quickly, but it does not by itself prove that a product is suitable for a particular role.

EN 61340-5-1
Control of electrostatic discharge when handling ESD-sensitive electronic devices. This is a product-protection system, not personal protection from electric shock or explosive atmospheres.
Filter products by this marking
EN ISO 20345
Basic and additional requirements for general-purpose safety footwear. Match the protection class and optional markings to the floor, task and exposure.
Filter products by this marking
EN 388
Performance tests for protective gloves against mechanical risks. Interpret each level against the actual abrasion, cut, tear and puncture hazards.
Filter products by this marking
EN ISO 16321-1
General requirements for occupational eye and face protection. EN 166 remains common in existing stock; for new procurement, verify the applied standard edition and hazard-specific markings.
Filter products by this marking

Always compare the results with the documented risk assessment, the required performance level and the product’s current EU declaration of conformity.

Plan in three layers

1. Core role kit
Clothing, footwear and basic PPE used on every shift, with size runs and defined replacement triggers.
2. Task module
Additional protection and checks issued for less frequent but higher-risk operations.
3. Reordering plan
Minimum stock, size distribution, seasonality, inspections and documented approval points.

The detailed knowledge behind the decision

Hand protection

Protective glove selection guide

Protective glove standards and markings explained: mechanical and chemical risks, cut resistance, materials, coatings, grip and sizing.

Read more →

Procurement checklist

Before requesting a quote

Better input produces more comparable quotations, a more accurate size run and fewer later changes.

  1. 01 Document the ESD zone and grounding system
  2. 02 Test clothing, footwear and flooring together
  3. 03 Trial gloves with the actual components
  4. 04 Review chemicals against their SDS data

Frequently asked questions

The questions that come up most often during procurement - the ones the rest of this article does not cover.

Does ESD footwear protect against electric shock?

No - quite the opposite. ESD footwear CONDUCTS so that charge can drain away, while electrical safety footwear INSULATES. Wearing ESD footwear in an area with electrical risk is dangerous, which is why the two zones must be sharply separated.

How often should ESD equipment be checked?

ESD protection only works while the drain path is closed: the sole, the floor and the wrist strap form it together. In practice, daily or per-shift resistance measurement is usual - a worn sole breaks the chain without any visible sign.

Is respiratory protection needed for soldering?

Extraction comes first; protective equipment is only a supplement. Where extraction cannot fully solve the problem, a filtering respirator is justified for solder fume - and the filter type follows from the substance produced, not from comfort.

Professional and legal framework

This page supports decision-making. Specific obligations must always be established from current legislation, the local risk assessment and the documentation for the selected product.

Important professional note

The product groups and combinations shown are starting points. They do not replace the employer’s documented risk assessment, PPE issue rules, the manufacturer’s instructions or the decision of a competent occupational safety professional. Always verify markings, compatibility and protective performance in the current documentation for the selected product.

Request a quotation assembled by role

Tell us the headcount, roles, current problem and required deadline. We will help plan trial items, size runs, decoration and replenishment.

Request a quote