Do you normally work in an environment full of electrical hazards? Well, if you work in this environment, there are many factors that you should put into consideration. One of the main concerns you should have is your safety as far as your duties are concerned. This is because most people have been electrocuted in the past and got injured. Others were unlucky and died on the spot. This is the reason why you should ensure that you optimize the safety of your hands when working on electrical equipment.
The good news is that there are gloves for electricians that can help keep electrical sparks at bay. In most instances, most of these gloves are dielectric and well insulated so as to prevent electric shocks. In this article, we shall outline some of the best types of gloves you should wear so that you can protect yourself from electrical sparks in the workplace.
Type Of Gloves To Protect Yourself From Electrical Sparks
When it comes to the protection of your hands, gloves play a very critical role. By wearing gloves, you will be able to prevent potential hand injuries that might interfere with your productivity at the workplace. Besides hand injuries, gloves will help in protecting your hands from harmful chemicals that might lead to skin disease. This has made gloves to be one of the first lines of defense as far as injury, and other health risks prevention is concerned.
Since we have outlined the various benefits of gloves, it is imperative that you lookout for a pair of gloves as soon as possible. When it comes to glove selection, there are different types of gloves that you are likely to come across. Some of the popular types include:
1. Latex Gloves
Latex gloves are one of the least expensive gloves in the market. Besides this, they are very popular in most workplaces. In most cases, you will find employees working in the medical and food industry wearing these gloves. By wearing these gloves, you can be sure that you will be safe from any form of chemicals, biohazards, harmful solvents, and so on.
Unlike other gloves, they are known to fit well and allow your fingers to move seamlessly. Although these gloves can help avert some of the risks mentioned above, they are not ideal when it comes to fire or heat protection. Also, they are not ideal to use when using sharp tools as they can easily get punctured. Finally, they might not be suitable for those working in places that have abrasive surfaces.
2. Cotton or Fabric gloves
When it comes to general work, the gloves mentioned above do not disappoint. Generally, they are ideal in places that do not require the user to be highly protected. If you check keenly, you will note that these gloves are thin and lightweight in nature. Typically, they offer very little safety to the user. Most people usually wear them so as to prevent splinters or minor scrapes when working.
3. Leather gloves
If you are looking for a pair of gloves that offers a good grip and are well insulated, look no further as the gloves mentioned above are the best solution for you. Besides this, they are known to last longer than their counterparts. This is because they are thicker than ordinary fabric. Consequently, you can be sure that they will offer the much-needed hand protection for many years.
4. Kevlar Gloves
To start with, these gloves are known to be very durable. Therefore, they are an ideal choice for those working in industries. Besides being durable, they are lightweight. When wearing these gloves, you can be sure that your hands will be safe from cuts and other forms of injuries.
5. Aluminized Gloves
If you usually work in an environment that subjects you to excess heat, these gloves are the ultimate solution for you. The good news is that these gloves are very resistant to high temperatures. As a result, they are ideal for those users who weld or work in foundries. They are also suitable for those who work in laboratories. Here, you can be sure that they will protect your hands optimally up to the temperatures of 2000°F
6. Butyl Rubber Gloves
The above-mentioned gloves are ideal for users who work with chemicals. Since they are made of rubber material, they will not absorb these chemicals. Consequently, your hands will be safe from harmful chemicals. Some of the chemicals that these gloves are resistant to include ketones, alcohols, acids,nitro-compounds, bases, and so on. Besides chemicals, these gloves can withstand extreme temperatures. Finally, they are ideal if you work in a place that has abrasive surfaces.
7. Puncture-Resistant Gloves
By wearing these gloves, you will be able to protect your hands from cuts, punctures, and other injuries. Since these gloves are woven, you can be sure that they will help deflect sharp objects that could otherwise puncture your skin. Ideally, these gloves should be worn by people working in the construction industry, warehouses, food industries, and so forth.
8. vibration-resistant Gloves
Also known as impact-resistant gloves, these gloves are very effective in minimizing the effects of extended vibration. By wearing these gloves, you can be sure that less energy will be transferred to your hands when working with vibrating equipment. As a result, they are ideal for use by those who are in the automotive, fabrication, and construction industries.
Best Gloves For Electricians To Protect From Electrical Sparks
If you are looking for the best work gloves for electricians, chances are that you might come across several models. At some point, you might be spoilt for choice. The good news is that we have outlined some of the best models that will not disappoint you. They include:
1. Magid Glove & Safety M-0-11-Y-7 Magid Class 0 Electrical Gloves
To start with, these gloves are made of natural rubber latex. By wearing this pair of gloves, you can be sure that it will offer class 0 low voltage protection of up to 1000 Volts. When it comes to durability, these pairs of gloves do not disappoint. They can actually last for many years and therefore, offer value for money.
Apart from durability, these gloves are very comfortable to wear. Therefore, you can wear them for long hours without having to remove them from time to time. When it comes to external appearance, these gloves have a smooth finish. In fact, these gloves are yellow in color, which is bright enough to make them more visible even from a distance.
They also come in several sizes. Therefore, you will not miss a size that fits you. Finally, these gloves meet or exceed the current ASTM d120-09 specifications. As far as OSHA regulations are concerned, these gloves have met all required standards.
2. Klein Tools 40082 Lineman Work Gloves, Large, Yellow
The above-mentioned gloves are made of several materials including leather, neoprene, nylon, and spandex. Each of these materials constitutes the following percentages respectively,85%, 5%, 5%, and 5%. It is important to note that these gloves are made in the U.S. Therefore, if you want them, you can readily import them, and you will be good to go.
Unlike other models, these gloves come with 4-inch leather and neoprene cuffs. These cuffs usually have side vents. When it comes to durability, these gloves do not disappoint, thanks to their double-row padded knuckles. Finally, these gloves come with a Klein lineman logo patch.
3. Maxiflex 34-874 Ultimate Nitrile Grip Work Gloves
Unlike other gloves, these ones come with a Nitrile coating that is compatible with light oils. Besides this, Nitrile coating provides the much-needed excellent grip and resistance to abrasion. To prevent debris from getting into the glove, these gloves come with a knit wrist.
Apart from this, the gloves are made from breathable materials that make them more comfortable to wear. In fact, you will not sweat even if you wear them for many years. Besides being made from breathable materials, these gloves fit well and are lightweight in nature. Therefore, you will not feel fatigued whenever you are using them. Finally, they are ideal as far as offering excellent gripping is concerned. You can actually use them in a number of applications, and everything will be a success.
4. National Safety Apparel Class 0 Black Rubber Voltage Insulating Glove Kit with Leather Protectors
To start with, these gloves come with a pair of 10’leather protectors and a glove bag for you to keep them. As far as high voltage protection is concerned, each pair of these gloves is able to protect the user from high voltages of up to 1000V. The good news is that these gloves have been tested, and as a result, they are very effective. In fact, they have a stamp showing that they meet all these standards.
As far as their usage is concerned, you will note that they are ideal for users who work in construction sites, power generation plants, and generally in places that have high voltage. Finally, these gloves come in a variety of sizes. If your size is between 8 and 12 inches, you can be sure that you will not miss a size that will fit your hand. The hand circumference of this gear ranges between 8 and 9 inches. Generally, these gloves are known to offer much-needed comfort and can last for a long. Since they can last for many years, they are bound to offer value for money.
5. 2 Pairs 3M Nitrile Foam Coated Comfort Gloves
The gloves mentioned above are ideal for both electrical and maintenance work. Therefore, if you are undertaking any of these tasks, you can readily wear these gloves. Besides this, they are made with comfort in mind as they are made with breathable materials. Therefore, you will not sweat a lot even when you wear them for longer hours.
When it comes to care and maintenance, these gloves are easy to clean and maintain. All that you need to do is to wash them once in a while and you will be good to go. They also offer a good grip and dexterity. In fact, they will offer excellent grip even when you are working in a slippery environment. Finally, they are highly durable.
6. Dexterity Flame-Resistant Arc Flash Glove with Neoprene Palm- S13FRNE-6
If you are looking for flame-resistant gloves, look no further as these gloves are the best option for you. You will note that these gloves have been arch-flash tested and have proved to be very effective. Besides being fire resistant, these gloves feature Neoprene palm coating that makes them offer the much-needed grip and comfort.
These gloves also have anti-static properties. This is because they come with Electrostatic dissipating carbon filament. Finally, these gloves are cut-resistant. Therefore, your hands will be free from cuts, fires, and even electrical sparks.
7. ESA SUPPLIES Insulated Gloves Rubber 12KV Safety Electrical Protective Work Gloves
As the name suggests, these gloves are made of rubber material. Besides this, they are insulated. As far as size is concerned, you will note that they come in a free size. Therefore, they can fit more than one person, regardless of the size of your hands.
When it comes to durability, these gloves do not disappoint as they can last for many years. Besides this, you will be safe from a high voltage of up to 1000V. Therefore, your hands will remain safe even when you touch live electrical parts in the workplace.
Features to Look at Before Buying Work Gloves For Electricians
Since we have outlined the various gloves that are fit for electricians, time is ripe to know what you to look out for when buying these PPEs. After all, these gears usually come with different features that might confuse you. Fortunately, we shall outline some of the critical features that you should not overlook when buying these gloves. Some of these features include:
1. Material
One of the key factors that you should check when buying these gloves is the material used to make them. Ideally, it should be made from high-quality material so that it can offer much-needed protection from electrical sparks. It should also be certified by professionals. As far as its material of construction is concerned, the glove should be made from non-conductive and non-flammable material.
A good example is a rubber. Rubber is known to offer much-needed protection against fire and even electrical sparks. For optimal results, you should go for gloves with a rubberized outer shell. This glove should have a nylon or fleece lining so that the user can be comfortable using it.
2. Is it insulated?
By wearing insulated electrical gloves, you can be sure that your hands will be safe even when working in areas with live currents. A good example of these gloves is those that are made of rubber material.
When it comes to insulation, different gloves usually are labeled differently. In most cases, the labels are normally color-coded, showing the actual class of the glove. Those gloves whose labels bear the code ‘Class 00’ are considered to have the lowest level of insulation.
In most instances, such gloves have a beige label. For optimal results, you should go for those gloves are that are highly insulated. The more insulated a pair of gloves is, the greater the protection. Besides offering the much-needed protection, these gloves will keep you warm and therefore allow you to work comfortably even during winter.
3. Size
Different gloves usually come in different sizes. Ideally, you should pick a pair of gloves that can fit well on your hands. A pair of gloves that is too big for your hands can cause accidents in the workplace.
At the same time, a pair of gloves that is too tight for your hands will make you feel uncomfortable when working. Therefore, you should take the measurements of your hands, especially your index finger and your palm in order to choose the correct size. By doing this, you will be able to choose a well-fitted product.
Besides the size, you should check the design of the gloves before buying them. Some of them normally have an elastic knit wrist that helps to secure the gloves when in use. This way, you can be sure that your gloves will not come off when in use.
Apart from this, this design normally helps prevent dirt and debris from entering, and as a result, your hands will remain clean for longer periods. In fact, you feel comfortable wearing such gloves for longer hours.
4. Is it easy to clean and maintain?
Although electrical gloves offer the much-protection from electrical sparks, they require cleaning and maintaining well for optimal performance. In any case, taking care of these PPEs will enable them last longer and therefore allow you to save more money in the long run.
For instance, if you have bought insulated electrician gloves, it is imperative that they be checked and inspected after every six months. This way, you will be able to establish if the gloves have issues or not. Also, this will enable you to take appropriate steps moving forward.
Besides this, you can try to do some air testing from time to time. By doing this, you will be able to detect air leaks and take appropriate actions. Finally, if you are able to clean them often, you can be sure that they will remain in pristine condition for many years.
5. Price
Every pair of electrician gloves comes with its own price. Some models will cost more than others. For instance, if a pair of gloves comes with sophisticated features, you can be sure that it will cost more than its ordinary counterpart. Therefore, you should set a budget for them.
Since you want gloves that will last longer and offer value for money, you should not overlook quality, all in the name of saving costs. You can even compare different prices from different retailers and choose the one that fits your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What kind of gloves should electricians use?
Ideally, electricians should wear leather protector gloves over the normal electrical insulating gloves. This way, the electrician’s hands will be safe from cuts, abrasion, and even electrical sparks. Remember that if the electrical insulating gloves get punctured, the electrician’s hands are at risk of getting electrocuted. As a result, leather protector gloves come in handy to avert such scenarios.
How should I wash my gloves?
To start with, gloves are very easy to wash. All that you need to have is some water and soap. You can put this water and soap in a utility sink and then wash them. If you do not have soap, a mild liquid detergent can be effective in cleaning them. Within a few minutes, your gloves will be clean. Rinse them before letting them dry.
When are electrical safety gloves required?
Typically, these gloves should be worn whenever the electrician is doing some electrical work. You will note that these gloves are part of the overall PPE that one should wear when working in an area that has electrical hazards.
Where can I buy gloves for electricians?
As we speak, you can now buy electrician gloves from many places out there. From your nearest retail store to online platforms, there are many places where you can shop for these PPEs. The choice is solely yours. However, the most recommended places to buy them are from online platforms such as Amazon, Homedepot, Walmart, and so on. Here, you will find plenty of models to choose from.
How do I choose the right size?
When it comes to glove selection, size matters. For you to choose the right size, you should take some key measurements using the hand that you rarely use. This could be your right hand or left hand. Some of the details that you should pay attention to include, the width of your pal at the knuckle’s base and the circumference of your hand at the knuckle’s base. Besides this, you should measure the length of your middle finger from the knuckle to the tip. This way, you will know the dimensions of the gloves that fit your hands well.
Final thoughts
Being safe as an electrician should top the list of your priorities when in the workplace. By investing in the gloves mentioned above, you can be sure that your hands will remain safe from electrical sparks, excess heat, and other risks that might lead to hand injuries. All you need to do is to choose the model that fits your budget, and you will be good to go. Consider these models today, and you optimize your hands’ safety when working. Consequently, your productivity will improve.