Rubber insulating glove testing is a required regimen at any plant that has employees who work on or around electrical equipment.
The e-Hazard Low Voltage Training class usually spends quite a bit of time on the proper use and care of rubber gloves. The reason for this is that a worker’s hands are the first to touch the equipment and are probably going to be the point of contact in a potential electrical shock.
Table 130.7(C)(7)(c) in NFPA 70E requires that rubber gloves be tested before their first use and then every six months after that.
Documentation is Critical
Tested gloves are stamped with the test date and are then good to use for six months from the day they are put into service or one year from the test date. If gloves are not immediately put into service, your company must decide how to document that the gloves are within the allotted time. If OSHA looks at the test date on the gloves and IF it has been more than 6 months since testing, your company must have a documentation method for tracking when the glove was put into service and that it is within the allowed time. Documentation is critical.
Make sure that insulating glove care is a priority at your facility. Gloves are often the only protection a worker has from being accidentally shocked by energized equipment.
Need Testing?
If your company is needing to have rubber gloves tested, these companies are all accredited by NAIL (North American Independent Laboratories). E-Hazard does not endorse specific companies for testing, but for your convenience we have compiled a list of labs that are accredited and are high quality testing companies for rubber insulating gloves.
