In a previous post we discussed managing rubber insulating gloves as an employer, this post is more geared towards the end user of the gloves.
Below are steps that will help you use gloves properly.
Each Electrically Qualified Person shall be responsible for the gloves issued to him or her. Even though your employer will supply you with rubber insulating gloves, you will need to inspect and maintain them properly as they are going to protect you from electric shock.
Upon receiving a set of rubber insulating gloves, you'll need to know when they expire. We suggest that you write the expiration date of the rubber insulating glove on the matching sized leather protector. The date is 6 months after the date of issuance. The rubber glove below has a unique identifier on it, # 6713518
This glove was issued on February 11, 2016, it expired on August 11, 2016 which we wrote on the leather protector:
Information regarding the frequency of testing gloves can be found here: https://www.70econsultants.com/how-often-should-i-test-my-voltage-rated-gloves/
It is critical to keep leather protectors with the matching rubber insulating glove if this method is used. If the leather protector is moved to a different set of rubber insulating glove then the information on the leather protector shall be crossed out and the new expiration information written in its place.
As an electrically qualified person you are required to complete proper daily testing, as well as identify expired gloves and remove expired gloves from service when found. Rubber insulating gloves found with no testing date also need to be removed from service.
Electrically qualified persons shall inspect gloves daily and conduct an air test daily before first use. Insulating equipment shall be inspected for damage before each day's use and immediately following any incident that can reasonably be suspected of having caused damage. Insulating gloves shall be given an air test, along with the inspection.
(picture found on internet)
An air test consists of filling the rubber insulating glove with air and listening for leaks. A roll should be utilized to do this test, which consists of rolling the cuff of the glove towards the fingers, trapping air in the glove and then listening for escaping air.
(picture found on internet)
Insulating equipment found to have defects that might affect its insulating properties shall be removed from service. Electrically Qualified Persons shall not share gloves to comply with bloodborne pathogen policies.
A minimum of Class 0 gloves shall be used for work on equipment with voltage less than 750VAC (i.e. 480VAC, 240VAC, 208VAC, 120VAC). Class 00 gloves shall not be allowed for equipment marked as 480VAC even though Class 00 is rated for 500VAC (There is more information here as to why we do not recommend Class 00 for 480V equipment: https://www.70econsultants.com/when-500v-gloves-are-not-good-enough-for-480v-work/).
Use of rubber gloves shall not be allowed without a leather protector. Rubber gloves that have been used without leather protectors may not be reused until they have passed third party voltage testing.