A daily test proves yesterday, not today
What a monitor actually checks
A continuous monitor sits at the workstation and verifies the operator's ground path in real time, measuring the resistance through the wristband, cord and connection while work proceeds. Many models also watch the bench mat path, and some detect when the operator is present at all.
That closes the gap that periodic testing leaves. A daily check at a tester proves the strap was good at that moment; it says nothing about the cord that frays at 10 a.m. or the band that was taken off after lunch. A monitor catches both while the product is still safe.
Where constant monitoring earns its keep
Monitors suit fixed stations with one or few operators, high-value or highly sensitive products, and processes where a latent failure discovered at final test is expensive. In those settings the cost of one monitor is trivial against the cost of a single escaped defect.
They fit less well at shared or frequently reconfigured benches, where operators move between stations, or where product sensitivity is modest. There, a disciplined daily-test routine may deliver most of the protection for none of the hardware. The choice is a risk decision, not a compliance checkbox; monitoring is one valid method, not a universal requirement.
Deploying without alarm fatigue
The failure mode of monitoring is operators ignoring it. Nuisance alarms usually come from worn cords, poor band contact or very dry skin, and each of those deserves a fix rather than a mute button. Set alarm thresholds per the monitor's instructions and verify them at installation.
Treat the monitor as part of the workstation audit: check its own condition, confirm operators know what the alarm means, and track what alarms actually occur. A monitor whose alarms are never investigated is decoration.
FAQ
Do monitors replace daily wrist strap testers?
At monitored stations, yes, the operator's path is checked continuously. Other stations on the same line may still use periodic testing, so many sites run both side by side.
Why do monitors false-alarm?
Commonly worn cords, loose band contact, or high skin resistance in dry conditions. These are real path problems worth fixing, which is why alarms should be investigated rather than silenced.
Are all continuous monitors the same?
No. Designs differ in what they measure and how, including single-wire and dual-wire approaches and whether they monitor the mat path. Match the monitor type to the wrist strap system in use.
Is continuous monitoring required by the standard?
No. Standards allow periodic testing or continuous monitoring as alternatives. The choice should follow the risk to the product and the cost of a failure at that station.
All figures above refer to standard product data sheets; final confirmation is subject to written quotation.