Debunking a Potentially Deadly Myth:
ESD Wrist Straps Aren’t Electrical Safety Devices

It's ironic how many people believe that an ESD wrist strap, designed solely to prevent electrostatic discharge, can double as an electrical safety device. Their reasoning typically hinges on the presence of a 1 megaohm resistor in series between the user and earth ground. The assumption is that, should they accidentally come into contact with a live circuit, this resistor will limit current flow through their body and somehow save their life.

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As an Electronics Manufacturing Engineer with decades of experience, including serving as Director of Oversight for ESD Programs at some of the United States’ leading technology companies, I find this misconception not just misguided, but dangerous. ESD wrist straps are engineered to safely dissipate static electricity, not to protect against hazardous voltages. Promoting them as life-saving devices in the event of electrical shock is not only scientifically inaccurate, but it also gives people a false sense of security that could have fatal consequences.

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When I was starting out in electronics nearly 50 years ago, long before the internet existed, the rule of thumb was clear: when working with live circuits, always keep one hand in your pocket. The idea was to isolate yourself from the ground and prevent the worst-case scenario, if you accidentally came into contact with a live circuit, you’d minimize the risk of current traveling across your heart by keeping it confined to one arm. This simple precaution was designed to prevent current from flowing from one hand, through your arm, across your heart, and into your other arm. Fast forward to today, and we now have people online telling others to connect one arm to earth ground with a wrist strap. This is the exact opposite of what you should do, it’s the worst thing you could possibly do, as it provides a direct path for electricity to flow through your body, potentially through your heart.

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When I hear people online claiming that an ESD wrist strap can be used as an electrical safety device, it doesn’t make me think they’re knowledgeable, in fact, it underscores just how little they know, and understand, not just about ESD, but about basic engineering principles as a whole. Their explanation reveals a profound misunderstanding of the device’s purpose, as well as a fundamental ignorance of the engineering concepts that underpin electrical safety.

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Suggesting an ESD wrist strap as a form of electrical protection is like going on your roof to do some repairs and tying a rope around your neck and attaching it to the roof as a "safety device" while doing repairs. In the event of a slip, that rope wouldn’t just fail to save you—it would literally be the cause of your death.

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Here’s the irony: by connecting themselves to earth ground with the ESD wrist strap, they've actually introduced a low resistance return path for current, a path that might not have existed otherwise. In doing so, they’ve created a hazardous condition that would not have been present without the strap, all while placing misplaced trust in a component never intended for electrical safety. The wrist strap, including its series resistor, was engineered solely for electrostatic discharge control, not for protecting human life. Its design, materials, and specifications reflect that limited purpose, making its use in circuits or systems carrying potentially harmful voltages not just inappropriate, but fundamentally unsafe, and grossly hazardous from the outset.

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ESD wrist straps are not designed for electrical shock protection. Their built-in resistors do not safely limit current from mains voltages (120V/230V). Factors like sweaty skin, wire faults, or resistor failure can drastically reduce resistance, increasing the risk of shock or electrocution.