Hi Kenny & All - We had a discussion on this a couple of months ago, which you may want to dig out of TechNet archives. Realize that the rules prohibiting eating, drinking or use of tobacco in production areas evolved back in the 1950's, and perhaps before. The rules were implemented to protect both the product and the employees, and they are not necessarily peculiar to the electronic industry. There are several issues involved with "drinking water" on the production line: First, the purity of the water itself. I've had the experience of having a number of water samples analyzed over the years, ranging from tap water to the purchased "pure mountain spring" water. Have found quite a number of interesting organic and inorganic things that I wouldn't pour on an electronic product. This becomes even more important if you're running a "no clean" operation and trying to protect the product from being contaminated in your shops. Second, the risk of ingestion of contaminated fluids. A lot of folks don't have too great a sense of personal hygiene, in spite of having been schooled in the subject since they were toddlers. It's tough enough to get them to "Wash Hands Before Eating" that mid-morning break Twinkie, or whatever. I've seen some of those bottles get pretty grimy, including the mouthpiece. Have also seen folks snap the drinking cap open with a grimy hand, then stick it in their mouth. Drinking fountains in or near the area are a whole lot better solution - protects the people and the product. Third, things like this have a habit of creeping into other things. Two weeks ago, I was working an assignment for one of our small local shops that allows bottled drinking water to be consumed on line. I happened to notice an oddly colored bottle of water and asked the young lady who was drinking from it just exactly what it was. She proudly showed me the label which read, "Peach Water". Turns out this stuff had a fair load of sugar, flavoring and some, as yet unidentified, bacterialogical stuff. While I'm strongly in favor of realistic work rules, I continually remind myself that the rules also have to protect the primary goals of running a factory: efficient production; reliable output; and profitability. The rules also have to protect the health and safety of its employees. In another post, someone raised the question of people with a Walkman plugged in both ears, oblivious to their surroundings. Here's my nickles worth on that item: Ever see one of these folks just continue to sit there when the Plant PA system blares out a warning for a tornado, fire or gives other significant information? Ever stop to consider how much of their concentration is on the product, vs. how much is on the entertainment? Ever seen one of these folks obviously keeping time to the music beat with the movements of their soldering iron tip? My vote has to be "No" on the Walkman, as well. Regards - Kelly -----Original Message----- From: Kenny Bloomquist <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Friday, February 25, 2000 9:42 AM Subject: [TN] Drinking Water >As long as Steve has brought up the touchy subject of safety glasses I >thought I'd throw in the touchy question of drinking water on the line. > >We work to J-STD-001 and flow that down to our subcontractors. We have a >subcontractor that has always allowed their operators to have a jug of >water at their bench. The containers they use are ESD safe and have a straw >out the top so they don't have to touch the top of the container where they >drink (unlike a sports bottle with a pop up top) . > >Two questions, what is the problem with this approach and when the spec >refers to "drinking" does it mean water and why? (woops I guess that's >three questions) > >Thanks, > >Ken Bloomquist >Sr. Principal Process Engineer >PRIMEX Aerospace Company >P.O. Box 97009 >Redmond, WA 98073-9709 >http://www.primextech.com > >Ph: 425-885-5000 >FAX: 425-882-5786 >[log in to unmask] > >Northcon/2000, Chairman of the Board >http://www.northcon.org > >Electronics Manufacturers Association (EMA), President >http://www.ema-wa.org > >############################################################## >TechNet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c >############################################################## >To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in >the body: >To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TECHNET <your full name> >To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TECHNET >############################################################## >Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional >information. >If you need assistance - contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or >847-509-9700 ext.5315 >############################################################## ############################################################## TechNet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ############################################################## To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TECHNET <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TECHNET ############################################################## Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information. If you need assistance - contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ##############################################################