ELECTRICAL PROTECTIVE HIGH TENSION GLOVES BASIC INFORMATION AND TUTORIALS

What are high tension gloves?

High voltage gloves are a form of PPE that is required for employees who work in close proximity to live electrical current. OSHAs Electrical Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR 1910.137) provides the design guidelines and in-service care and use requirements for electrical insulating gloves and sleeves as well as insulating blankets, matting, covers, and line hoses.

Electrical protective gloves are categorized by the level of voltage protection they provide. Voltage protection is broken down into the following classes:

n Class 0—Maximum use voltage of 1000 V AC/proof tested to 5000 V AC.

n Class 1—Maximum use voltage of 7500 V AC/proof tested to 10,000 V AC.

n Class 2—Maximum use voltage of 17,000 V AC/proof tested to 20,000 V AC.

n Class 3—Maximum use voltage of 26,500 V AC/proof tested to 30,000 V AC.

n Class 4—Maximum use voltage of 36,000 V AC/proof tested to 40,000 V AC.

Once the gloves are issued, OSHA requires that they be maintained in a safe, reliable condition. This means that high voltage gloves must be inspected for any damage before each day’s use, and immediately following any incident that may have caused them to be damaged.

This test method is described in the ASTM section F 496, Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Gloves and Sleeves. Basically, the glove is filled with air, manually or by an inflator, and then checked for leakage.

The easiest way to detect leakage is by listening for air escaping or holding the glove against your cheek to feel air releasing.

OSHA recognizes that gloves meeting ASTM D 120-87, Specification for Rubber Insulating Gloves, and ASTM F 496, Specification for In- Service Care of Insulating Gloves and Sleeves, meet its requirements.

In addition to daily testing, OSHA requires periodic electrical tests for electrical protective equipment and ASTM F 496 specifies that gloves must be electrically retested every 6 months. Many power utility companies will test gloves and hot sticks for a reasonable fee.