Electrostatic discharge can give you an annoying or, depending on the voltage, painful static shock. Unless you’re struck by lightning – a grand example of static discharge – ESD will not hurt you. What it can do is damage electronics you use or that people charged with your safety use to protect you. For instance, ESD in a flight tower can cause computers to lose track of planes; in a 9-1-1 call center ESD can cause lost calls or scrambled GPS signals. In fact, ESD can wreak havoc in any work environment where sophisticated electronics are manufactured, handled or used.