An
antistatic wrist strap,
ESD wrist strap, or
ground bracelet is an
antistatic device used to safely
ground a person working on very sensitive
electronic equipment, to prevent the buildup of
static electricity on their body, which can result in
electrostatic discharge (ESD). It is used in the electronics industry by workers working on electronic devices which can be damaged by ESD, and also sometimes by people working around explosives, to prevent
electric sparks which could set off an explosion. It consists of an elastic band of
fabric with fine
conductive fibers woven into it, attached to a wire with a clip on the end to connect it to a
ground conductor. The fibers are usually made of carbon or carbon-filled rubber, and the strap is bound with a stainless steel clasp or plate. They are usually used in conjunction with an
antistatic mat on the workbench, or a special static-dissipating plastic laminate on the workbench surface.