operation each sensor 46 49 sends a signal to control unit 55 which may then provide warnings directly to person 12 or other personnel such as through a visual and or audible alarm 57 that there is a danger of an electrostatic discharge event to rectify the situation precautionary measures such as having person 12 touch a grounding unit not shown can be performed thereby making it safe for person 12 to enter vulnerable area 15 in a preferred embodiment control unit 55 is provided with a memory unit 60 to record an event time along with the corresponding level of static charge detected for later data downloading and analysis sensitive equipment 35 provided in vulnerable area 15 may take many forms for instance sensors 46 49 on doorway 50 could monitor electrostatic voltage charge potential 26 of person 12 entering an electrostatic discharge vulnerable area 15 of a wafer process room a gas handling facility or a nasa vehicle assembly facility while one or more sensors 46 49 in doorway 50 may be used to detect electrostatic voltage charge potential 26 of object 11 passing through doorway 50 preferably four sensors 46 49 are used to achieve a high level of detection at this point it should be realized that various objects could be monitored and the particular monitoring arrangement would be accordingly designed for instance a conveyor arrangement not shown could be utilized in combination with sensors 46 49 to scan objects entering vulnerable area 15 in any case in the embodiment shown control unit 55 uses.