Table of Content
What are Insulating Gloves?
Different Types of Insulating Gloves
Insulating Gloves and Category
How to Choose the Right Safety Gloves For Electrical Work
How to Take care of Insulating Gloves
FAQ
What are Insulating Gloves?
Insulating gloves are used for electrical work. They prevent shocks and burns. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandates that all electrical gloves be tested before use and on a periodic basis. Tests of Electrical gloves happens before being available. Then every six months, or when there is reason to believe their insulating value is in question (such as after repair, after use without protectors, or when defects are evident during an inspection).
Electrical safety gloves are put into groups on the basis of how much voltage protection they offer. Also, if they can stand up to ozone, which can be from oxygen by many electrical processes.
Different Types of Insulating Gloves
Generally, to protect their hands from electrical currents, electricians often use rubber-insulating gloves. Dielectric properties, physical strength, flexibility, and durability are all important qualities in electrical safety gloves.
These rubber electrical gloves, also known as kV gloves or high voltage gloves, are typically a part of a set. You won’t get shocked if you wear rubber gloves, and the leather protectors will keep the gloves from wearing out too quickly. The leather shields are not suitable for use on their own because of the risk of electrical shock.
So, on each hand, you have two very large gloves on. Additionally, you must wear arc-rated personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times to prevent injury from arc flash.
Both the ASTM International ASTM D120-21—Standard Specification for Rubber Insulating Gloves and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60903:2014 Live Working – Electrical Insulating Gloves standards must be met or exceeded for proper safety and performance.
Glove System
Rubber Gloves: Sorting of insulating rubber gloves is by how much voltage protection they offer.
Liner Gloves: Liner gloves make wearing rubber-insulating gloves less painful. Liners keep you warm when it’s cold and soak up sweat when it’s warm. They can have a knit wrist or a straight cuff.
Leather protector: Leather protector gloves are often worn over rubber-insulating gloves to help protect against cuts, abrasions, and punctures.
Insulating Gloves and Category
There are chiefly three types of insulating gloves
Standard Insulating Gloves: The standard in the industry is rubber gloves with very high dielectric properties. They go over the eather gloves for the best insulation.
Mechanical Insulating Gloves: Gloves with mechanical insulation give you extra protection from falls and are very hard to tear or puncture. This means you don’t need any other protective gear.
ASTM D120 Gloves: Gloves that meet the standards set out in ASTM D120 by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the largest organization in the world that creates standards for materials and products through consensus-based, open processes.
How to Choose the Right Safety Gloves For Electrical Work
Interval testing is necessary
All electrical protective equipment, including electrical gloves, must be going through periodic electrical tests, according to OSHA in 29 CFR 1910.137(c)(2)(viii). Table I-4 shows the test voltages, and Table I-5 shows the test intervals. Also, insulating equipment that has been electrically tested but has not been put into service must have been electrically tested within the last 12 months before it can be put into service.
Use Accredited Test Labs
You should send the gloves to a reputable lab so that they can test it again. For example, RP Comtrade offers the best safety gloves that meet industry standards. They offer comfort, durability, and the utmost protection. So log on to RP Comtrade and equip yourself with the best protection.
Using Gloves according to the Correct Classification
Electrical safety gloves are put into groups on the basis of how much voltage protection they offer and if they can stand up to ozone. You can safeguard yourself from the risks of your job by investing in a quality pair of gloves. You can protect your hands from cuts, scrapes, and holes by putting a leather guard over an insulating rubber glove.
Checking before Using
Maintaining the integrity and dependability of the safety gear is essential. Before putting on a pair of gloves, make sure there are no tears, holes, ozone cuts, or other damage. Also, check the gloves for swelling, which is usually due to chemical contamination (especially from petroleum products). Even the slightest swelling can be a problem.
If the electrical gloves have any of the above problems, take them out of service, clean the gloves, and inspect them again.
Air Check the Gloves for Leaks
OSHA’s 29 CFR says that an air test and inspections for insulating gloves is a must. ASTM F 496-20 also says how to take care of insulating gloves and sleeves while they are in use. This is for the air tests. Basically, they fill the glove with air (either by hand or with an air pump) and then checked to see if it leaks.
ASTM F 496-20 says that during the air test, Type I gloves shouldn’t expand more than 1.5 times their normal size, and Type II gloves shouldn’t expand more than 1.25 times.
Also read: Safety Equipment: A comprehensive overview of Types, Importance, and Selection.
How to Take care of Insulating Gloves
Chiefly, store rubber-insulated gloves and sleeves in a cool, dark place away from steam pipes, radiators, and other heat sources. Store them away from electrical testing. Put the gauntlet end in the bottom of glove bags and hang them from a peg. Do not place anything on top of them in boxes or tool bags to distort their shape. Avoid wearing and storing gloves inside and out.
Don’t put the leather glove inside the rubber glove either. To clean rubber gloves, hand or machine wash them. Tap water and mild soap or non-bleaching detergent. Rinse them in clean water and dry them at 150°F. If your gloves touch transformer oils, inhibitors, or other petroleum-based products, clean them with a manufacturer-approved liquid cleaner. Use a dry cloth to wipe.
FAQ
1. Why is electrical PPE important?
Electrical PPE protects workers from various hazards, like shocks and burns.
2. What are the four types of insulation?
Insulating gloves can be categorized by their ability to resist certain environmental properties like
A – Acid.
H – Oil.
Z – O-Zone.
R – for acid, oil, and O-zone.
C – Very Low Temperatures.
Which insulator is the best?
Wool is the best insulator.
