Rubber Insulated Gloves, Hot Sticks, Line Hose, Sleeves Testing
Macron Safety prides itself on strict adherence of OSHA and ASTM safety standards by conducting the highest standards of quality control.
We offer Testing and Inspection Services for the folllowing:
- Rubber gloves (Class 00 through Class 4)
- Insulated hot sticks (Spine, Shotgun, Telescopic, Body Resuce Hook and more)
- Rubber sleeves
- Insulated line hose
- Fiberglass Hot Sticks
- Hotline Jumpers
Order Dielectric Testing Services
The testing process includes a nonconductive label that identifies the item being tested. This allows the item to be tracked and documented as well as assigning it to a user/employee with a personal number and identifying customer code. After carefully washing the gloves and sleeves in a special soap solution they are dried and then carefully inspected for any conditions that could negatively effect their dielectric integrity; such as: tears, holes, cuts, scratches, rips or abrasions. If any damage is noted during the visual inspection the item will be rejected and labeled unusable to prevent any accidental reuse and injury.
After the visual inspection, blankets, gloves and sleeves are subjected to an electrical test as required by the “class rating” of the particular item and by the standards of the ASTM and OSHA (max 10kv A.C.) These too will be immediately labeled unusable if they they fail the electrical test.
Once the testing is complete two copies of the documentation test result will be produced. One copy is returned to our customer and one copy is kept in our customer file.
Our customers choose how they want an item dealt with; a rejected item can either be returned or we can dispose of the item in our lab. Macron Safety can expedite the replacement of any items that may not have passed inspection.
Based on OSHA requirements (29CFR 1910.137(b)) which covers the in-service care and use of rubber insulating equipment. Here are the minimum test intervals established by OSHA:
If an item has not been in service for 12 months; it may not be placed into use until it has been tested. However certain gloves need to retested at nine-month intervals (See ASTM F 496-91 section 7.3)
TESTING REQUIREMENTS
- Rubber Gloves dielectrically tested every 6 month
- Rubber Sleeves dielectrically tested every 12 months.
- Rubber Blankets are to be dielectrically tested every 12 month.
- Hot Sticks tested every two years.
- Temporary Grounds to be tested every three years.
Gloves for Electrical Protection
One of the most important protection items for anyone working with electricity is rubber insulating gloves. The following are 3 types of gloves their protection value:
- Leather Gloves: These should only be used to protect rubber insulating gloves. When leather gloves are worn over rubber insulating gloves they can protect against punctures, tears and cuts. The leather glove should be ones that are specially prepared by being steam pressed over hand forms to guarantee a correct fit over the rubber insulated gloves.
- Liner Glove: These are designed for comfort only. They provide a warm liner under the rubber glove in the winter months, and they wick away sweat in the summer months. Liner gloves come in two types; knit at the wrist or a straight cuff at the wrist.
- Rubber Insulated Gloves: These will be determined and classified based the protection they provide by the level of voltage that will be encountered.
These rubber insulating gloves will be one of the most important pieces of personal protection for anyone working with electricity. The gloves must have all of the following: high dielectric strength, physical strength coupled with flexibility and endurance. Gloves must meet the requirements of ASTM D120 specifications and electrical testing specifications for ASTM D120/IEC903.
Classifications for Electrical Protective Gloves:
(Based on OSHA (EPES 29 CFR 1910.137))
- Class 0: Maximum use voltage of 1,000 volts AC/proof tested to 5,000 volts AC
- Class 1: Maximum use voltage of 7,500 volts AC/proof tested to 10,000 volts AC
- Class 2: Maximum use voltage of 17,000 volts AC/proof tested to 20,000 volts AC
- Class 3: Maximum use voltage of 26,500 volts AC/proof tested to 30,000 volts AC
- Class 4: Maximum use voltage of 36,000 volts AC/proof tested to 40,000 volts AC
(Ref: OSHA http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9787)
Gloves “type” determines if a glove is ozone resistant:
- Type I not ozone resistant
- Type II is ozone resistant
It is important that after gloves are acquired, they be maintained as required by OSHA standards; in a safe reliable condition. This means that prior to each days use, each glove be carefully inspected for any type of damage. And it is especially imperative that gloves be inspected after any type of use that may have caused cuts, tears, holes or any kind of damage. By OSHA standards this includes not only a visual inspection but an air test as well.
Air testing (as described in ASTM F 496) requires that the glove be filled with air and checked for leakage by holding it against your face to feel air escaping and up to ones ear in an attempt to hear and feel escaping air. Gloves and sleeves should not be expanded beyond OSHA recommended standards:
- Type I : No more than 1.5 times it’s normal size
- Type II: No more than 1.25 times it’s normal size
The air test needs to be conducted with the gloves twice: once with the gloves right side out and once with the gloves turned inside out. Since sleeves cannot be inflated; they need to be examined both inside out and right side out.
Along with daily use testing; electrical protective wear is required by OSHA to be tested electrically. Per ASTM F 496, gloves that are in use need to be retested electrically every six months. However; if the gloves have been stored and unused for up to 12 months, they must be electrically retested before being used.
CARE, STORING AND INSPECTION OF INSULATING SAFETY WEAR
To ensure worker safety and the integrity of the gloves and sleeves, insulating gloves need to be worn along with protector gloves (such as leather), and both insulating gloves and sleeves need to be stored properly when not in use. Proper storage means that gloves must not be folded and need to be kept out of excessive heat, sunlight, humidity, ozone, and any chemical or substance that could damage the rubber.
Insulating equipment may not be used if any of the following defects are present: holes, tears, punctures or cuts, ozone cutting or ozone checking, embedded foreign objects, texture changes, including swelling, softening, hardening, or becoming sticky or inelastic, and any other defect that damages the insulating properties. [See 1910.137(b)(2)(iii) and ASTM F1236-96, Standard Guide for Visual Inspection of Electrical Protective Rubber Products].
For additional information on the use of insulating gloves and sleeves, see ASTM F496, Standard Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Gloves and Sleeves, and ASTM F1236-96, Standard Guide for Visual Inspection of Electrical Protective Rubber Products. Additionally, see 1910.137(b)(2).
(Ref: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/electric_power/ppe_insulatinggloves_sleeves.html
Sources for more Information
To view a copy of the OSHA standard, visit www.osha.gov
The ASTM standards can be purchased at www.astm.org
North American Independent Laboratories for Protective Equipment Testing (NAIL for PET): http://www.nail4pet.org/
NAIL Accredited Laboratories. (Find by State): http://www.nail4pet.org/findtestinglabs.html
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.137(b)(2)(iii)(B): Ozone cutting or ozone checking (the cutting action produced by ozone on rubber under mechanical stress into a series of interlacing cracks).