Rubber Insulating Gloves

   Let’s talk a little about rubber insulating gloves and OSHA and the NFPA70E. This very important part of arc flash PPE is, in my opinion, the item that every electrician should have with them when going on any job that involves live electrical equipment. I think it is fair to say that for most electricians, gloves and safety glasses are the 2 most employed pieces of electrical PPE.
   Are your rubber gloves up to the task of protecting you from electric shock or arc flash? That question has to be answered by you. However, there are rules in play concerning this topic. Let’s see what NFPA70E has to say about this.

   Nfpa70E states in article 130.7(C)(6)
   Hand and Arm Protection. Employees shall wear rubber insulating gloves where there is danger of hand and arm injury from electric shock due to contact with live parts. Hand and arm protection shall be worn where there is possible exposure to arc flash burn. The apparel described in 130.7(C)(13)(c) shall be required for protection of hands from burns. Arm protection shall be accomplished by apparel described in 130.7(C)(5).

A little further down the page it states:

Table 130.(C)(8) Standards on Protective Equipment
Gloves                        ASTM D 120-02, Standard Specification for Rubber Insulating Gloves, 2002
Sleeves                       ASTM D 1051-02, Standard Specification for Rubber Insulating Sleeves, 2002
Gloves and sleeves      ASTM F 496-02, Standard Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating
                                    Gloves and Sleeves,  2002
Leather protectors      ASTM F 696-02, Standard Specification for Leather Protectors
                                   for Rubber Insulating Gloves and Mittens, 2002

Nfpa70E also states in article 130.7(C)(13)

   Hand Protection. Leather or FR gloves shall be worn where required for arc flash protection. Where insu-
lating rubber gloves are used for shock protection, leather protectors shall be worn over the rubber gloves.
FPN: Insulating rubber gloves and gloves made from layers of flame-resistant material provide hand protection against the arc flash hazard. Heavy-duty leather (e.g., greater than 12 oz/yd2) gloves provide protection suitable up to Hazard/Risk Category 2. The leather protectors worn over insulating rubber gloves provide additional arc flash protection for the hands. During high arc flash exposures leather can shrink and cause a decrease in protection.

   As you can see, NFPA70E does not say too much about the subject.
On the other hand, Osha has plenty to say. Read the OSHA standard here:
 
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9787

   I have included a few excerpts from the OSHA standard. They are:

1910.137(a)(2)(i) Equipment shall be capable of withstanding the a-c proof-test voltage specified in Table I-2 or the d-c proof-test voltage specified in Table I-3.
1910.137(b)(1) Electrical protective equipment shall be maintained in a safe, reliable
condition.
1910.137(b)(2)(vii) Protector gloves shall be worn over insulating gloves, except as follows:
1910.137(b)(2)(vii)(A) Protector gloves need not be used with Class 0 gloves, under limited-use conditions, where small equipment and parts manipulation necessitate unusually high finger dexterity.Note: Extra care is needed in the visual examination of the glove and in the avoidance of handling sharp objects.
1910.137(b)(2)(vii)(B) Any other class of glove may be used for similar work without protector gloves if the employer can demonstrate that the possibility of physical damage to the gloves is small and if the class of glove is one class higher than that required for the voltage involved. Insulating gloves that have been used without protector gloves may not be used at a higher voltage until they have been tested under the provisions of paragraphs (b)(2)(viii) and (b)(2)(ix) of this section.
1910.137(b)(2)(viii) Electrical protective equipment shall be subjected to periodic electrical tests. Test voltages and the maximum intervals between tests shall be in accordance with Table I-5 and Table I-6.

   Basically, you are responsible for keeping your PPE up to the standard specified by Osha and your gloves need to retested every 6 months by an approved testing facility. This testing is normally the responsibility of your employer.
   Reading through these standards can made your head spin, however, you should really try to familiarize yourself with these standards. Remember, these rules are here to protect you but can also be used against you if you are injured on the job while violating any of these rules.
   Thanks for your attention.

J. Williams
Contributing writer
WBG Interactive
http://www.workboxgroup.com