LEARN MORE about electrical safety gloves
Rubber insulating gloves form the first line of defense against contact with energized components or electrical lines
Hazards associated with working on, or close to, energized equipment include:
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Electrical shock
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Arc flash
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Arc blast
All three types can and do occur in industrial facilities – where low-voltage equipment (under 600 volts AC) is typically in use – as well as in high-voltage electrical utility plants.
It is not voltage, but rather current that travels through a human body when it becomes part of an electrical circuit, that causes damage to internal and external organs and, frequently, death. The effect on a person depends on the amount of current (measured in milliamps or amps) flowing through the body, the current's path through the body, and the length of time the body remains in the circuit. It can range from mild tingling sensations to heart paralysis and severe burns of tissue and organs, often resulting in death.
Rubber insulating gloves form the first line of defense against contact with any energized components or electrical lines and are one of the most important items of personal protection equipment (PPE) for electrical workers. OSHA requires use of these gloves in high- and low-voltage applications for those working on or near energized circuits. They are not only used by utility linemen and telecommunications technicians, but also by such other commercial and construction workers as
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Maintenance technicians working in amusement parks, hospitals, water plants, manufacturing plants, office buildings, schools
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Electricians
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Maintenance and electrical supervisors
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Machine operators, maintenance millwrights and mechanics
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HVAC technicians
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Transportation works, primarily rail
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Elevator installers and repair personnel
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Field service technicians
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Automotive technicians
Hazards above 50 volts are recognized by OSHA in 1910.303 (g) (2). OSHA 1920.269 (1) (2) (I) states that employees must avoid contact above 50 volts AC unless they are insulated with rubber gloves meeting the ASTM D120 standard (per OSHA 1910.137 (a)).
It is important to train workers to select gloves rated for their particular applications.
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CLASS
|
TEST AC VOLTS
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USE AC VOLTS
|
USE DC VOLTS
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LABEL COLOR
|
|
00
|
2,500
|
500
|
750
|
Beige
|
|
0
|
5,000
|
1,000
|
1,500
|
Red
|
|
1
|
10,000
|
7,500
|
11,250
|
White
|
|
2
|
20,000
|
17,000
|
25,500
|
Yellow
|
|
3
|
30,000
|
26,500
|
39,750
|
Green
|
|
4
|
40,000
|
36,000
|
54,000
|
Orange
|
....
Besides the six classes, rubber electrical safety gloves are divided into two Types. Type I gloves, generally made from natural rubber, are not considered resistant to ozone, while Type II gloves, generally made from a synthetic rubber such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), are considered ozone-resistant.
Cotton glove liners may be used to absorb perspiration and to improve wearer comfort. Wool and thermal liners also are available for cold outdoor applications.
Under most circumstances rubber insulating gloves are worn under leather protectors to provide mechanical protection against abrasion or cuts. Even a small puncture in an electrical insulating glove will allow electrical current to reach the hand. The exception would be if the dexterity required to perform the task requires that rubber insulating gloves be worn alone.
Before purchasing a protector glove, confirmation should be made that it complies with ASTM F696, which is required by OSHA. Also, it is important to ensure there is enough clearance between the top of the protector gloves' cuffs and the top end of the beads of the rubber insulating gloves. ASTM F696 outlines specifications for the minimum clearance distances required. OSHA has specific requirements associated with the use of protectors and the end-user is responsible to make sure they are in compliance. But a leather protector alone does not provide any electrical insulation protection.
Electrical protectors are sized to be worn on the same size rubber insulating glove, so if a worker wears a size 10 rubber insulating glove, a size 10 leather protector should be used. Due to this, certain leather protectors are used with specific classes of rubber gloves according to their length. The protectors are not interchangeable with the different classes of rubber gloves.
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The top-grain goat skin protectors are to be used with the class 00 and 0, 11'' rubber gloves.
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The 12" top-grain cowhide protectors are to be used with the class 1 and 2, 14'' rubber gloves.
OSHA regulations require that all insulating gloves be electrically tested every six months in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.137. There are several labs in the United States that perform the required testing. Glove manufacturers usually can assist with finding a test lab to meet needs. In addition, gloves must be visually inspected before each use to check for tears, rips, and punctures. Portable glove inflators are used to simplify visual inspection.
There are two standards that prescribe test intervals for rubber insulating gloves:
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OSHA 1910.137 – Must be electrically tested before first issue and every six months thereafter
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OSHA 1910.268(Tele-com) – Natural rubber insulating gloves must be electrically tested before first issue, twelve months after first issue, and every 9 months thereafter
Any un-issued glove that has not been tested within twelve months must be re-tested before issue. In addition, rubber insulating gloves should be visually inspected before each day's use and after any action that could be expected to cause damage to the glove.
The PIP Novax brand of rubber electrical insulating gloves meets all applicable USA and International standards. Novax gloves are manufactured in an ISO-certified manufactured facility.
The manufacturer of Novax gloves electrically tests every glove prior to shipment. Each ''batch'' of gloves is also subjected to a battery of physical and electrical tests to ensure that the gloves meet the ASTM D120 Standard, which covers manufacturing and testing of rubber insulating gloves for protection of workers from electrical shock. Novax gloves are marked with the factory test date as follows: the pair box is marked with the test date of the initial test completed at the factory. Novax gloves may also have ink stamped the test date on the individual gloves. It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that the gloves have passed the required electrical test within the specified time.
Rubber insulating gloves are cleaned by washing them in warm (85°F) water with mild detergent, disinfected with a small amount of chlorine bleach. Then they are air dried or tumble dried at low heat (165°F). Clean, dry gloves may be dusted lightly with talc to reduce tackiness.
Rubber insulating gloves should be stored in a glove bag, finger tips up, hung, not laid flat. Leather protectors should be removed before storing the rubber gloves. Rubber insulating gloves should never be folded. They should be stored in as dry and cool (95°F maximum) a location as possible, away from sources of ozone and direct sunlight. Storage bags for rubber insulating gloves need to be long enough to make sure that the rubber insulating gloves are stored without creasing or folding them.
The product warranty on Novax gloves is in compliance with ASTM D120. It reads:
12.1 The manufacturer or supplier shall replace, without charge to the purchaser, unused gloves which, at any time within a period of nine (9(0 months from date of initial delivery of shipment to the purchaser or his designee, fail to pass the tests in this specification. This guarantee will be binding on the manufacturer or supplier only if the gloves have been properly stored and have not been subjected to more than an original acceptance test and one retest.
12.2 Any acceptance test made by the purchaser, or the purchaser's designee, shall be performed within the first two (2) months of the guarantee period unless otherwise specified.
NOTE 3 – Proper storage means that gloves are stored right side out, not distorted and not stored directly above or in proximity to steam pipes, radiators, or other sources of artificial heat, or exposed to direct sunlight or other sources of ozone. It is desirable that the ambient storage temperature shall not exceed 35°C/95°F.
When end-users are marking the ''in-service'' date on rubber insulating gloves, any brand of marker that uses an ink with relatively mild solvents should be used. Example: ''Sharpie™'' markers are acceptable. Note that the felt tip should be soft and rounded to prevent any damage to the glove material and the marking should be placed as near the cuff of the glove as possible. There are no provisions in the standard for marking leather protector gloves, so no such marking is required.
The content of this article is provided by and used by permission from Protective Industrial Products, Inc.
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