How can personnel mitigate the risks of electrostatic discharge when handling explosives?

Mitigating the risks of electrostatic discharge (ESD) when handling explosives is crucial for maintaining safety in operations involving sensitive materials. The correct response highlights the importance of grounding measures and antistatic clothing or equipment in preventing ESD.

Grounding measures are essential because they help to dissipate any accumulated static electricity safely, reducing the risk of a discharge that could ignite explosives. This is typically accomplished by ensuring that personnel, equipment, and even containers are properly grounded. Antistatic clothing and gear further help by minimizing the potential for static charge accumulation on personnel. These types of clothing are specifically designed to prevent the buildup of static electricity, significantly lowering the risk of igniting explosive materials.

In contrast, wearing metal jewelry and loose clothing could inadvertently pose a risk of creating static sparks. Non-conductive tools may assist in avoiding short circuits but do not inherently prevent static charge accumulation. Avoiding any movement while handling explosives is impractical and does not address the electrostatic concerns directly, as static buildup can occur even in stillness without proper grounding or antistatic measures. Hence, the recommended approach integrates both grounding practices and the use of antistatic equipment to create a safer handling environment for explosive materials.