Electrostatic-sensitive device

An electrostatic-sensitive device (often abbreviated ESD) is any component (primarily electrical) which can be damaged by common static charges which build up on people, tools, and other non-conductors or semiconductors.

Field repairs to and handling of ESD printed circuit boards (PCBs) were resulting in extremely high failure rates.

Studies of PCB failures indicated that static damage to chips and PCBs were being caused by field service engineers who were often unaware of the need to employ precautionary procedures in handling ESD sensitive parts.

Gabriel developed a proposal for an ESD warning symbol and circulated it to numerous electronics standards groups.

C. Everett Coon at the EIA (Electronics Industry Association) enthusiastically responded to the concept and coordinated a world-wide effort among various standards bodies and interest groups to devise an appropriate symbol that would be void of any verbiage and be quickly recognizable that handling precautions were necessary for the ESD item.