How to wear an ESD wrist strap

Each type of ESD wrist strap has been designed to be adjusted to fit each individual wearer. The two most common types of ESD wrist straps are metal ESD wrist straps and elastic adjustable ESD wrist straps. Each of these can be adjusted as follows:

Adjusting the size of an elastic adjustable wrist strap:

1. Place the wrist strap on the wrist. The wrist strap can be worn on either wrist, dependant on the location of the wrist strap ground point.
2. Open the clasp by pulling upward on the “tail” of material that extends out from the clasp.
3. Tighten or loosen the elastic material through the clasp until the wrist strap fits snugly but comfortably.
4. Test the wrist strap system with an ESD wrist strap tester to be sure of proper electrical resistance and skin contact.
5. Connect the wrist strap to Earth via a ground cord and bonding point.

Adjusting the size of a metal expansion wrist strap:

1. Insert the link end of the wrist strap into the slotted opening on the cap. Insert it at a downward angle to allow the links to slide inside the channel in the backplate.
2. Change the size of the strap by sliding the links in or out of the stainless steel backplate. For those with extra small wrists, the excess links of the wrist strap can be cut off with cutters.
3. Lock the links into place by pulling down on the wrist strap, seating the strap securely over the lip on the edge of the backplate.
4. Test the wrist strap system with an ESD wrist strap tester to be sure of proper electrical resistance and skin contact.
5. Connect the wrist strap to Earth via a ground cord and bonding point.