Question

Why should rubber insulating gloves be tested?

Answer
By Richard A. Rivkin | Last updated: January 15, 2019
Presented by AD Safety Network

The short answer is “How do you know that it will save your life?”

The longer answer is that there are regulations and standards that require certain electrical protective equipment to be tested at regular intervals.

Damage can occur during use (and even in storage, in some cases) and that damage can potentially affect the electrical insulating properties. So, you have two options: either throw them away and replace them, or send them to a qualified lab for electrical testing (learn more in Hammering Home the Importance of Selecting a NAIL4PET Accredited Test Lab).

The lab is a much less expensive option. Throwing away your rubber gloves when you could re-test and

Advertisement
potentially re-certify them by a qualified test lab is like throwing money down the drain. Why spend $200 every six months to replace a pair of high-voltage gloves when you could test those gloves for less than 10% of that amount without sacrificing safety or compliance?

You will, however, have to replace the gloves if they fail the test. It is neither safe nor a good practice to repair rubber insulating products. Still, replacing only your damaged rubber insulating gloves is much more affordable than routinely replacing every pair instead of having them tested (find out Why You Should Give More Thought to Rubber Insulating PPE).

Presented By

Logo for AD Safety Network

Share this

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • X

Written by Richard A. Rivkin

Richard A. Rivkin

Richard A. Rivkin is President and Chief Executive Officer of Saf-T-Gard International, Inc., a privately-held family-owned and operated global supplier of industrial safety products based in Northbrook, Illinois.

More Q&As from our experts

Term of the Day

Edge Effects

Edge effects are defined in ecology as the influence that two ecological communities have on one another where they meet at…
Read Full Term

Let's Make Workplaces Safer!

Subscribe to the Safeopedia newsletter to stay on top of current industry trends and up-to-date know-how from subject matter authorities. Our comprehensive online resources are dedicated to safety professionals and decision makers like you.

Resources
Go back to top