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  • Ensuring Electrical Safety: Choosing the Right Insulating Gloves
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Ensuring Electrical Safety: Choosing the Right Insulating Gloves

Understanding Arc Flash Risks

Working with electricity presents significant hazards, with arc flash incidents ranking among the most severe. An arc flash occurs when electrical current deviates from its intended path, traveling through the air between conductors or to the ground. This sudden surge of energy results in an arc blast, causing a rapid increase in temperature and pressure. The extreme heat can lead to severe injuries or fatalities, not only for the worker directly exposed but also for those nearby.

The Importance of Proper Hand Protection

To mitigate the risks associated with arc flash, selecting the right personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential. Among the most crucial PPE items are rubber insulating gloves (RIGs), which provide a protective barrier against electrical hazards. ActivArmr® electrical insulating gloves from Ansell are designed to offer superior protection, meeting global safety standards while ensuring user comfort and flexibility.

Selecting the Right Glove Class

RIGs are classified into six categories based on their voltage resistance:

  • Class 00: Protects up to 500V ac / 750V dc
  • Class 0: Protects up to 1000V ac / 1500V dc
  • Class 1-4: Provides increasing protection, ranging from 7,500V ac / 11,250V dc up to 36,000V ac / 54,000V dc

Choosing the appropriate glove class depends on the maximum voltage exposure in the work environment. ActivArmr® gloves are available in various lengths and colours, allowing workers to select the best fit for their specific applications.

Enhancing Protection with Leather Overgloves

To extend the lifespan of RIGs and provide additional mechanical protection, wearing leather protectors over rubber insulating gloves is highly recommended. These protectors safeguard against cuts, abrasions, and punctures, maintaining the gloves’ integrity while offering an extra layer of defence against arc flash hazards. The length of leather protectors should correspond to the glove class to ensure full coverage without compromising dexterity.

Compliance with Safety Standards

Electrical insulating gloves must adhere to strict regulatory standards to guarantee worker safety. ActivArmr® gloves meet key global requirements, including:

  • ASTM D120 (U.S.)
  • EN 60903 (Europe)
  • IEC standards (International) 

Each standard defines specifications for material performance, voltage resistance, and testing requirements. Retesting intervals and over-glove specifications may vary, but all gloves should be visually inspected before each use, with an air leak test performed to confirm their sealing capability.

Testing for Arc Flash Protection

Due to the high temperatures generated during arc flash incidents, insulating gloves undergo rigorous testing to validate their protective capabilities. Two critical tests include:

  • Open Arc Test (ASTM F2675:2021) – Measures the glove's ability to withstand arc flash energy exposure.
  • Box Test (UNE-EN 61482-1-2:2015) – Simulates arc flash conditions in a controlled environment to assess thermal resistance.

These evaluations ensure that ActivArmr® gloves provide reliable protection in high-risk electrical environments.

Conclusion

By selecting the right class of insulating gloves, wearing leather protectors, adhering to global safety standards, and conducting regular inspections and testing, workers can significantly reduce the risk of arc flash injuries and electrical shock. ActivArmr® electrical insulating gloves deliver the highest levels of safety, comfort, and durability, making them an essential choice for professionals working with electrical hazards.

See our range of Electrical Safety Gloves

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About Bunzl Safety and Lifting

Bunzl Safety and Lifting offers an integrated approach to the selection, supply, service, and replacement of safety products, resulting in our ability to manage the complete life cycle of your personal and workplace safety requirements. Bunzl Safety and Lifting is a leading manufacturer of safety products, we provide the very best in workwear, corporate wear, PPE, footwear, materials handling, load restraint, and recovery,height safety, and site safety. We are also a leading supplier of some of the best industrial safety brands on the market, including Mack, Ninja, Contego, Boomerang, Beaver, B-Safe, WS Workwear, Frontier, Black Rat, Robertsons, 3M, Honeywell, Ansell, Bolle Safety, DuPont, Donaghys, MSA, Moldex, Steel Blue, Oliver, uvex, Sqwincher, MaxiFlex, DNC Workwear, Mayo Hardware, Gunnebo Industries, Skylotech and Blundstone. We also offer a range of services including product specialisation and consolidation, custom embroidery and branding, lifting equipment and inspections, NATA Accredited testing and services, height safety installed systems and training, managed inventory, eCommerce and digital solutions, clothing fitouts and yearly uniform issues, ethical sourcing, Indigenous Engagement, and environmental responsibility. We have an Australia-wide network of branches that ensures fast shipping across the country.

Bunzl Brands & Operations Pty Ltd (BBO) located at 55 Sarah Andrews Close Erskine Park NSW 2579 quality scope covers: manufacturing, importing, wholesaling, repairing and testing of lifting, rigging equipment, winches, hoists and materials handling products. The manufacture of synthetic slings and webbing products including load restraint and height safety equipment. Manufacture, import, wholesale and distribution of PPE products, workwear and hand tools. Design and development of products and services and the provision of mechanical testing services.