ECN Forum Forums Safety Discussion and News Occupational Safety Discussion Static electrical shock from vacuum hose

I know this is a bit off not having to do with the use of a vacuum truck BUT I did have an experience like that just simply vacuuming up a broken down rubber underpad from a carpet, using a Shop-Vac with a metal canister and "double insulated" motor , so the metal canister was NOT grounded.. Not only would you get a shock if you touched the metal canister or handle of the vacuum, I actually had it throwing sparks about 1" from the vacuum into the nearby metal freezer door!
Grounding the metal canister to a nearby metal box with a "jumper cable" resolved the problem for the time the vacuum was needed... I never had any problems with getting sparks or shocks off the plastic hose..
A.D

Yea verily,
Get thee a copy of yon NFPA 77 with all due haste.

Like Don says, if you are in a flammable/explosive type environment, you are indeed playing with fire...literally.

77 will tell you if you need listed equipment, or if you can place a static ground in proximity with the hose, which is quite often possible.

Don't think of it like an equipment ground, the resistance/impedant value of this can be very high with no ill effect, but consult the standard and you will likely have success.

Good luck, I've spent a LOT of time with this rascal and you will find it informative, interesting, and danged protective.