Why everything depends on grounding
The purpose of ESD protection is to dissipate charge along a controlled path to ground before it discharges through a sensitive component. If that path is missing or broken, every other measure loses its point. A mat, a bench and a wrist strap only work when they are genuinely connected.
An unconnected or badly connected surface
The most common mistake is a trivial one — the mat lies on the bench, but the ground cord is not plugged in, has worked loose, or leads to a socket that is not a grounding point at all. Just as common is a cord that gets disconnected during cleaning or when the bench is moved, and nobody notices.
Worn wrist straps and cords
A wrist strap is a consumable. The fabric band picks up dirt with use and loses conductivity, the cord breaks at the connector, and the protective resistor can be damaged. A strap that looks fine may not work at all — the only way to tell is a test, not a visual check.
Individual items without a system
Items are also often bought one at a time, with no relationship to each other. The result is a workstation with a quality mat but an ordinary floor, or a wrist strap with no grounding point within reach. Protection breaks at its weakest point, however much has been invested in equipment.
Hidden problems and how to avoid them
Most grounding faults give no visible sign — the workstation looks normal and production continues. That is why only one thing helps: regular checks and simple rules. A wrist strap test before each shift, occasional re-measurement of surfaces, and one clearly named person responsible will reveal most problems before they do any damage.