When I was a kid, I used to go with my dad when he worked maintenance at the local factory. He could do anything – if there was a machine that wasn’t working, he could fix it.

One day, when he was working on an electrical panel, he suddenly yanked his hand and grimaced. I asked him what happened, and he said “A little shock. Just a hazard of the job. I’ll be fine.” Dad wasn’t wearing any gloves that day, and he was lucky.

I’ve followed in his footsteps and now I’m a facilities engineer. I know how important it is to wear my rubber gloves whenever I am near live voltage. I want to make sure that I get home safe each day to see my family. And one day, when my son is old enough, I want to be able to bring him to work with me and show him what I do.

Rubber Insulating Safety Gloves and Electric Shock

Rubber insulating safety gloves are an important piece of personal protection equipment designed to protect workers from electric shocks. To casual observers, every rubber safety glove may look like it provides the same kind of protection. But in reality, they are rated for different levels of voltage exposure.

Simply wearing gloves, however, is not enough to ensure the safety of your hands. The gloves also have to be in good working condition. They must also be regularly tested by an accredited laboratory to make sure they are still safe for their intended use.

Inspecting Rubber Insulating Safety Gloves

Workers should also inspect the gloves daily. Putting on gloves without first inspecting them is taking an unnecessary risk.

Look for rips, tears, holes (even pinholes), cracking, or foreign objects embedded in the glove. Any of these can make the gloves less effective at preventing electric shocks.

If your inspection reveals any flaw or damage to the gloves, replace it with a new pair that meets all of the safety specifications for the job.

Rubber insulating safety gloves are relatively affordable – especially when compared with the cost of an electrical shock, injury, or fatality. If they are properly stored and cared for, they could last you several years.

Tips to Avoid Hand Injury from Electric Shock

  • Only work with gloves with the right rating – the gloves will not protect your hands unless they can withstand sufficient voltage
  • Inspect gloves rubber insulating gloves before every use – look for any signs that they have been compromised
  • Damaged gloves should be replaced immediately, even if the damage is minor
  • Don’t remove gloves until it is safe to do so – if you need more manual dexterity to do the job well, bring this to the supervisor’s attention and request a different style of glove

Conclusion

With the right rubber insulating safety gloves, the risk of electric shock can be reduced dramatically. Make sure your gloves are in good, functioning order before you start your work. It might just save you a trip to the emergency room.

Download this helpful poster on how to inspect your rubber insulating gloves so no one ever skips a step in the procedure!