Download Care, Use, and Maintenance of Rubber Insulating Gloves

Last revised March 19, 2015
Electrical Department – EQUAL CODE: EL304
Care, Use, and Maintenance of Rubber Insulating Gloves
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Scope
This presentation applies to the following occupations:
• Maintenance Electrician
• Electrical Apprentice
• Instrumentation Technician
• Power Protection and Control Serviceman
• Power Line Technician
• Combustion Serviceman
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Purpose
To provide the user of the equipment with the proper instruction for the
care, use and selection of rubber insulating gloves.
Rubber insulating gloves are to be used when:
• Arc flash protection is required;
• Live testing and trouble-shooting while holding a meter or meter test
leads;
• Establishing a safe work zone;
• Installing protective grounds;
• Changing of High Voltage fuses;
• Used as recommended under EUSA rules for safe limits of approach;
• When working on systems above 50 volts.
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Tools and Equipment
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Glove
Class
Maximum Use
Voltage
(phase to
phase)
Minimum distance
between leather
protector cuff and
glove cuff
00
500 volts
13mm (1/2”)
0
1,000 volts
13mm (1/2”)
2
17,000 volts
51mm (2”)
Tools and Equipment
Class 0 Gloves
Class 2 Gloves
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Preparation
Testing of this equipment should be done in an area that is
• Clean
• Low noise
• With adequate lighting
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Use, Care & Maintenance
1. Rubber gloves should never be used without protective covers.
– The protective cover should match the class of rubber glove being
used.
– The distance which the rubber glove cuff is exposed from the
leather is listed in the equipment description for this procedure.
2. In a clean well illuminated area remove the gloves from the carrying
case.
– Remove the rubber gloves from their leather protectors.
3. Completely inspect the carrying bag to ensure there is no dirt or
foreign objects in the bag which could potentially damage the gloves.
4. Inspect the leather gloves for dirt and damage.
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Use, Care & Maintenance
5. Rubber gloves must be inspected before use, and any time you
suspect the gloves may have been damaged.
6. Protective covers are inspected to detect cuts, holes, and broken
beads, particles of dirt, wood chips, grease, oil, or small bits of wire
inside and/or embedded in the cover.
7. The field inspection of rubber gloves includes a visual and air test.
– Turn the rubber gloves inside out and roll the cuff to trap air in the
finger and palm areas.
– Look, listen, and feel for air escaping from possible punctures.
– At the same time, the worker should look for any abrasions and
cuts.
– Air should be held in the gloves for 10-15 sec.
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Use, Care & Maintenance
Cracking & Cutting
Shown above is the damage
caused by prolonged folding
or compressing.
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Chemical Attack
This photo shows swelling
caused by oils and other
petroleum compounds.
Use, Care & Maintenance
Snags
Damage shown here is due to
wood and metal splinters and
other sharp objects.
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UV Checking
Storing in areas exposed to
prolonged sunlight causes UV
checking.
Use, Care & Maintenance
Avoid Folding Gloves
The strain on rubber at a folded
point is equal to stretching the
glove to twice its length.
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Avoid Storing Inside Out
Gloves should never be stored
inside out. Storing gloves reversed
strains the rubber severely and
causes ozone cutting.
Use, Care & Maintenance
8. Turn the rubber gloves right side out, then repeat the air
test and visual inspection.
9. The field inspection should include the inspection of the
last tested date on the cuff of the gloves.
• Class 00 and Class 0 gloves must be retested or
replaced every year or sooner
• Class 2 gloves must be retested or replaced every 90
days or every 6months (refer to procedure for details)
10. Rings, watches, and similar jewelry must be removed
before inspection and use.
• These items could create stress or abrasion causing
the rubber to prematurely break down.
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Use, Care & Maintenance
11. Rubber gloves, being made of natural rubber, are
subject to corona cutting, and care must be exercised
with regard to storage.
They must be stored
• In their natural position,
• In a properly sized rubber glove bag,
• Preferably hanging up,
• Not stuffed under other equipment or tools.
Storage should also be
• in a cool, dry location
• away from electrical sources and fluorescent lighting.
When not in use, rubber gloves must not be left exposed to
direct sunlight for any appreciable duration.
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Use, Care & Maintenance
12. It is important to remember to:
• wear the proper glove for the voltage,
• know what system you are working on, and
wear any additional PPE as required for arc flash
protection.
13. If the gloves are found not to pass any of these tests,
• do not use them,
• report the failure to your supervisor, and
• return the gloves to your supervisor for proper
disposal and replacement.
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Always Wear Your Gloves
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Thank you!
For more information contact :
Phil Langlois, Lead Electrical Engineer
(705) 682-6031 [email protected]
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