Dielectric gloves - reliable protection against electric shocks

Dielectric gloves - one of the means for protection from current when working with electrical installations. They are made of special rubber, which includes substances that give the product elasticity and electrical strength, but this material also has the property of breaking down under the influence of oils, gasoline, heat or mechanical action.

Dielectric gloves in its purpose are of two types:

• Suitable for work in electrical installations where the voltage is not more than 1000 V.
• Suitable for operation of electrical installations where the voltage is above 1000 V. In this case, dielectric gloves serve as an additional means of protection when working with basic safety equipment (high voltage indicators, bars, protective and electrical clamps , etc.).

Without the use of additional protective equipment, an independent isolating device is used when working with disconnector drives, switches and other equipment where the voltage is more than 1000 V.

To do this, gloves are put on their full depth, pulling on the sleeves of clothing. It is inadmissible to roll up the bell.

On sale you can find several types of this protective device:

• Gloves, dielectric, seamless;
• With a seam;
• Two-fingered;
• Five-fingered.

Regardless of this, all glove types have the same requirements:

• Their length should not be less than 350 cm;
• Presence of marking;
• The size of the gloves should be such that under them you can wear knitted gloves, for example, when working in the cold;
• The width of the bell should be large enough to fit over the sleeve.

Dielectric gloves: features of use

Before use, they should be carefully inspected for mechanical damage, contamination and lack of moisture, and check for punctures: twist the gloves in the direction of the fingers.

Every time before use, the insulating gloves should be checked by filling them with air to identify through holes that could cause electric shock.

To protect against mechanical damage, it is permissible to wear leather or tarpaulin gloves over dielectric gloves.

Periodically, the gloves should be washed in soapy water, followed by drying.

How to test a dielectric glove

They must be completely immersed in a bath with warm water. Water is also poured into the gloves. At the same time, the water level inside and outside the gloves should be five centimeters below the upper edges, which should remain dry.

Within one minute a test voltage of 6 kV is applied between the body of the bath and the electrode, which is lowered into the gloves. If desired, simultaneous testing of several pairs at once is possible, but it is necessary to control the current passing through each glove. It should be no more than 6 mA.

In case of breakdown or excess of the rated current, gloves are rejected, and their further exploitation is strictly forbidden.