One question that comes up all the time when I’m doing electrical safety training is whether or not an electrician’s rubber insulating gloves offer any protection from Arc Flash? Interestingly enough, even though you probably won’t find a label on the glove that says so, rubber insulating gloves used in conjunction with leather protectors do offer sufficient protection from arc flash burns.
Now we are talking about arc flash protection but don’t forget why you are wearing the gloves in the first place. Shock Hazard. That needs to be your primary concern when it comes to protecting your hands. Once you’ve got that taken care of you can worry about arc flash.
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Is this legit?
The industry standard for electrical safety, NFPA70E, does not offer much information about how to size your gloves for arc flash protection or how to determine the incident energy rating for your gloves but I’m lead to believe that they have done some testing and feel comfortable saying that the rubber insulating gloves with leather protectors will protect you from an arc flash. Here is what it says in the standard:
“If rubber insulating gloves with leather protectors are used, additional leather or arc-rated gloves shall not be required. The combination of rubber insulating gloves with leather protectors satisfies the arc flash protection requirement.”
That note applies to an arc flash PPE category of 4 which requires a minimum of 40 cal/cm2 protection. So that gives me a good level of comfort that my gloves offer great protection from arc flash.
How can you prove it?
Up until June of 2013, the amount of protection was determined by the thickness of the leather protectors. That year though a new standard for testing gloves was approved and testing started right away. Because thickness was not part of the criteria for meeting the standard manufacturers are now coming out with thinner leather gloves that still offer the maximum protection against arc flash. Something you might want to look into with your supplier.
Also, traditional rubber insulating gloves with leather protectors were tested alongside some of the Arc Flash Gloves which you may now see on the market and it was proven that they offer fantastic protection from Arc Flash. In case you are curious, the standard for testing gloves for Arc Flash is ASTM F2675-13.
Just remember, the main reason you are wearing the rubber insulating gloves is to protect against shock hazards. Fortunately, your regular rubber insulating gloves with leather protectors offer an excellent protection from an arc flash hazard and should always be worn, when there is a risk of a shock or an arc flash event.
When working on live electricity make sure you are wearing rubber insulating gloves with leather protectors
You don't want to wear gloves that will burn, catch fire or not protect from heat. Beyond sustained injuries, ignoring the need for proper electrical PPE can result in huge fines.
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There are a lot of misconceptions about arc flash, starting with what it actually is. It is not a flash of light or an arc of fire. It is related to but not the same as electric shock, and there is not usually direct contact with electricity. Yet arc flash is deadly serious, and there are more than 30,000 incidents that result in 400 fatalities every year. So how can you protect your hands from this deadly killer?
Can Arc Flash Be Prevented?
Yes. Let's start by exploring what arc flash is. Arc flash is an electrical current that jumps from the desired path and travels through the air from one conductor to another. It incorporates both radiant and convective heat and can reach temperatures of up to 35,000° F. Imagine a bolt of lightning veering off course. It has the potential to ignite clothing and burn workers. Anyone in the path of the electrical discharge or in the vicinity can be severely injured or even killed.
Arc flashes can occur around high-voltage or current machinery for several different reasons, including:
The most obvious and best way to prevent an arc flash is to work on de-energized equipment. If there is no current flowing through a device, there will be no arc flash. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to work on energized equipment or on equipment whose status is unknown. In these circumstances, it is important to work with your safety specialist to find the proper hand protection for working with energized circuits.
1. Prevent ignition by wearing gloves that will not ignite.
While arc flash injuries can be to the face, hand, or body, hands are normally first to catch fire. Therefore you don't want to wear gloves that will burn, catch fire, or not protect from heat. Beyond sustained injuries, ignoring the need for proper electrical PPE can result in huge fines.
Rubber insulating gloves are traditional for working with arc flash hazards. Rubber insulating gloves can be bulky or difficult to work in, so lighter-weight arc flash and electrical gloves are coming into the market.
This article originally appeared in the February 2017 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
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