Electrical Gloves

Explore All There Is to Know About Electrical Gloves Including Types, Benefits, Applications, and More

Electrical gloves are used by the workers as a strong protection against electric current in case they are working on faulty equipment or any area where there is a greater chance of electrical hazards. These gloves are created using natural or synthetic rubber as it is highly resistant to electricity and works as an insulator to break the circuit. Mostly when electrical workers enter a high-voltage area or work in a place with live wires they prefer to wear protection gear that also includes high-quality electrical gloves. Moreover, there are various types of electrical gloves available in the market which are classified on the basis of the level of protection they provide. Most commonly the material which is used to make these gloves is rubber as it is a bad conductor of electricity and prevents electric shocks.

What are Electrical Gloves?

Electrical gloves are part of personal protection equipment or PPE that workers wear to protect themselves in areas having the most chances of electrical hazards. These gloves are most commonly manufactured using non-conductive materials like rubber, silicone, etc., or by combining two materials for high quality. But even rubber gloves have their limitations and can get easily torn apart if they get cut while working. To prevent this a worker wears leather gloves over them to keep safe from cuts, scratches, and punctures. Moreover, the quality of electrical gloves is judged based on their protection against the power of voltage and ozone resistance.

Types of Electrical Gloves

Overall there are six types of electric gloves available in the market based on the value of maximum electric flow they save the workers from.

• Class 00

These electrical gloves are mostly used by the workers when there is a voltage flow of a maximum of 500 volts AC and 750 volts DC. The color that represents these gloves is beige and is used for low-voltage repair or maintenance.

• Class 0

Electrical gloves of class 0 are designed to protect the workers from the maximum voltage of 1000 AC and 1500 DC. These gloves are represented in red color and are used for low voltage work providing basic protection levels to workers.

• Class 1

These types of electric gloves are used for medium levels of voltage including in the repairing of transformers or any other sort of industrial work. Class 1 gloves protect the works efficiently, where there is a maximum voltage flow of 7500 AC and 11250 DC, and they are represented by white.

• Class 2

Most commonly these electric gloves are represented by yellow color and protect the workers from the maximum voltage flow of 17000 volts to 25500 volts. These gloves are mostly used in the areas where there is high voltage flow including energy power plants or heavy machinery repairs.

• Class 3

Class 3 electrical gloves are commonly used in electrical facilities like powerhouses. These gloves are represented by green and are used while working in areas where there is a maximum voltage flow of 26500 AC and 39750 DC.

• Class 4

These electrical gloves are worn by the workers on transmission lines where there is a maximum voltage flow of 36000 AC and 54000 DC. The orange color is used to represent these electrical gloves which are very expensive in comparison to other gloves.

Electric Protection Gloves Include

Here are three types of gloves that technicians wear before working on high-voltage equipment or power lines:

• Rubber Insulation Gloves

These gloves are worn first to come in contact with skin and effectively prevent electric shocks. These are of six types and each glove is selected based on their capability to safeguard from the level of high voltage.

• Leather Gloves

These gloves are worn over the rubber gloves by the workers to not only protect themselves from electric shocks but also from cuts and bruises from sharp objects. Moreover, the leather gloves also protect rubber gloves from getting damaged.

• Linear Gloves

These types of gloves are highly preferred for their comfort level and capability of providing warmth in winter and absorbing sweat in summer. With this level of comfort, the workers can thoroughly work at high-voltage power lines and machines without worrying.

Benefits of Electrical Gloves

• Prevents Electric Shocks

Electrical gloves help the technicians by preventing electric shocks or any other type of electrical hazards. These gloves are made from nonconductive materials including rubber, silicone, and many others. Even some materials are combined to create strong and more resistive electrical gloves to handle the high voltage equipment or machinery. When workers repair or operate these systems there is a slight chance they can get hit by electric shocks and these gloves prevent this.

• Safety Regulations

Electrical gloves are the part of safety regulations that every personnel should follow and wear while working in a high-voltage area. These gloves help comply with the safety regulations set by the Government for every industrial facility.

• Protects From Injuries

Workers often cut or abrase their hands while working on machinery and electrical equipment from sharp objects. Electrical gloves work as a strong layer of protection on hands to protect them from cuts and bruises. However, these gloves can also be damaged and some workers even wear leather gloves over them to protect electrical gloves.

• Better Grip

Electrical grips are made from rubber or silicone and even a combination of the two. Thus, they offer excellent grip while working on heights on transmission lines or with high-end machinery. Working with electrical tools can be dangerous without electrical gloves as it increases the chances of electric shocks. Also, working with tools and equipment is not so easy when you are at height in high-voltage areas.

• High Voltage Capacity

Electrical gloves are classified into six categories after considering their maximum voltage protection capacity. Each glove can protect the workers from high voltage but there’s a limit to how much voltage it can bear and prevent the workers from getting electric shock. For example, the class 00 electrical gloves can protect the workers from the maximum voltage of 1000 AC and 1500 DC and class 4 gloves can protect from the maximum voltage of 36000 AC and 54000 DC.

• Certification

The best thing about the electric gloves is that the safety is ensured from the electrical hazards as these are inspected after every work session and are certified every six months. This ensures that the personal protection gear stays effective and workers are out of danger every time they enter the high voltage areas.

• Leather Protection

You can use electric gloves without wearing the leather protection on top. But remember both your hands and the gloves will be exposed to sharp objects that can easily cut your hands or puncture the gloves. That’s why the safety regulations recommend that workers wear leather protection beforehand.

Applications of Electrical Gloves

• Electrical Power Lines

Electrical gloves are worn by technicians and linemen to work on high-voltage power lines and repair the transformers. These are high-voltage areas where the workers are at high risk of getting electrical shocks. As the electrical gloves are manufactured using nonconductive material like rubber, these gloves protect the workers from electric hazards.

• Manufacturing Facilities

As per regulatory compliance, the manufacturing facilities are required to have personal protection gear for the workers handling high-voltage lines or equipment. The electrical gloves are part of that gear and help the companies ensure the safety of their workers.

• Telecommunications

Workers are responsible for laying cables and working on transmission lines for the company to establish effective communication and connectivity. They use electrical gloves to be safe from the risk of electric shocks as they work in high-voltage areas.

• Automotive Industry

In the automotive industry, the manufacturing of electric vehicles is on the rise with each passing year. The workers are required to wear electrical gloves to work with high-voltage batteries or while setting up the electrical systems in the vehicles to prevent electric hazards.

• Construction

In construction sites, the workers deal with high-voltage machinery and set up the electrical systems and wirings throughout the property. While establishing the connection and checking them the workers wear electrical gloves high voltages flow through the circuit. It can be dangerous for them to work without gloves and to add extra protection they even wear leather gloves over them to prevent cuts and bruises.

Care and Maintenance of Electrical Gloves

It is highly important to care for the electrical gloves as the compromise with quality can be fatal for workers at high voltage sites. Here are the points to take care of:

• Regular Inspection

Electrical gloves should be regularly inspected for any sort of damage, cuts, bruises, and punctures as they can be very dangerous for the worker. If the high voltage current flows through the faulty gloves it can increase the chances of electrical hazard.

• Cleanliness

Electrical gloves should be thoroughly cleaned with mild detergent or alcoholic cleaning solutions for effectiveness. Workers should remove the jewelry or any object that can harm the gloves before wearing them to ensure their own safety.

• Dry

After washing the gloves workers should make sure they are completely dry before working on high-voltage equipment or lines. If the gloves are wet then it increases the chances of getting electric shocks.

• Store in a Dry & Cool Place

After the job, the workers should carefully handle these gloves and keep them in a cool and dry place. They can also use a bag that is thoroughly cleaned and has no sharp objects already inside. Another hard object can tear or cut the gloves which compromises their working efficiency.

• Testing

Electrical gloves should be tested every 90 days as per the safety regulations to check their effectiveness in preventing electrical hazards. You can get these gloves checked in a NAIL-accredited lab as they are considered highly authentic for the job.

How to Choose The Right Electrical Gloves For Yourself?

The selection of the right electrical gloves is very essential for the safety of workers who are working in high-voltage areas. There are multiple factors to consider to make the final decision. Here are they:

• Identify Class & Voltage

Electrical gloves are classified into class and maximum voltage they can bear. You must identify and choose the gloves that protect the workers from the highest voltage there is in your facility.

• Voltage Type

Each class of electrical gloves supports the different values of highest voltage in AC and DC. so you must consider the type of voltage present in your facility to provide the workers with the best safety standards.

• Protection and Flexibility

The higher the voltage present in your facility the higher the class of electrical gloves are to be required for the safety of workers. But their weight may increase with the class of protection they offer and it can disrupt the working capability of the workers. Hence, you must keep a balance between the protection and flexibility levels for optimal performance.

• Layering Options

Must know whether the gloves you're selecting have the layering options or not. Meaning they should be compatible with other types of gloves also including leather protection gloves that the workers wear above them to prevent injury from sharp objects.

• Proper Fit

The electrical gloves must fit properly in the hands of the workers so that they get a grip to handle tools and equipment. Moreover, with perfectly fitting electrical gloves, the quality of insulation will be higher.

• Long Life

Electric gloves go through dielectric tests after passing which they are considered effective. And if the gloves pass the test with no damage you can see then you can use them. But they are again to be tested every six or twelve months according to the times they have been used.

Difference Between Arc-Rated Gloves Vs Electrical Insulating Gloves

Ans. While working in high voltage areas the workers may face two threats: electric shock or electrical arcs. Arc-rated gloves protect the workers from the electrical arcs whereas insulated gloves protect from the electric shocks. Both of these gloves are very essential for preventing workers from electrical hazards.