Problems with static electricity
2 marks · EasyExplain why it is important to avoid wearing rubber-soled shoes when working in environments with flammable gases.
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Rubber-soled shoes act as insulators and prevent charge from flowing to earth. This causes static electricity to build up on the body, which could discharge as a spark and ignite flammable gases.
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Marking points
B1 · 1 mark · States rubber soles insulate/prevent charge from being earthed.
B2 · 1 mark · States spark/static discharge may ignite flammable gases.
Worked solution
Rubber-soled shoes insulate the worker from the ground, preventing static charge from safely flowing away. This allows static charge to build up and discharge as a spark, which could ignite flammable gases.