Not all electrical gloves function the same way. In Australia, people typically gravitate to one of two main options: either a three glove system, or composite gloves. Some tasks can call for more specialised gloves, but those two cover the majority of use cases, and both have their pros and cons.
How do electrical gloves work?
Electrical gloves are made of special rubber compounds and have strong dielectric properties. This allows them to resist electrical currents, protecting the wearer. They are rated to specific voltages ('strengths' of electricity - somewhat analogous to temperature or pressure) that they can resist. Gloves come in a collection of classes: Class 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4.
Class 00 maxes out at 500V (AC), Class 0 at 1,000V, Class 1 at 7,500V, Class 2 at 17,000V, Class 3 at 26,500V, Class 4 at 36,000V. Classes can, of course, resist the voltages below them - i.e a Class 3 will have no issue with 1,000V currents. Class 0 is recommended and preferred for the majority of residential and commercial work, as most systems in Australia operate at either approximately 230V (standard residential) or 400V (some businesses and large homes).
Additionally, voltages are often appended with AC. This stands for Alternating Current, which is the form of current used to transport electricity, and is what you receive through power outlets and power lines. DC is Direct Current, which is most commonly produced/received through batteries and solar panels. In most instances, electricians interact with AC.
Three Glove
The three glove approach involves wearing 3 separate gloves over one another - a cotton inner glove, a rubber insulating glove, and a leather outer glove. The cotton inner glove absorbs sweat and provides wearer comfort, the rubber insulating glove provides the electrical insulation necessary for electrical work, and the leather outer glove protects the inner layers and the hand from mechanical damage (i.e cuts, tears) that would compromise the electrical protection provided by the rubber layer.
Composite Glove
Composite gloves skip the tri-glove system by incorporating the protections provided by all three layers into one, offering electrical insulation, arc-rated protection, and mechanical resistance all in one. This simplifies the process significantly, and also results in a higher level of dexterity and comfort for the wearer.
Maintenance
Electrical gloves require maintenance, as with any other piece of PPE. The majority of their maintenance is standard wear and tear, but additional attention needs to be paid to the presence of any holes, as even a pinhole crack can compromise the glove entirely. Use-by dates vary depending on the glove.
Importance
It should be understood that electrical gloves are not just a piece of PPE. Electricity is one of the most deadly and unpredictable forces of the modern era, and eschewing electrical insulation can easily result in death in even very standard workspaces. A poorly placed electrical current can easily and instantly send you into immediate cardiac arrest. Failing that, it will often burn you, shock you, and even damage your brain directly, leading to neurological damage.
While insulated electrical gloves can't prevent other electrical incidents occurring (an arc flash can emit heat four times hotter than the surface of the sun), they're essential to ensuring your safety in the workplace. Keep yourself safe with information from Volt Safety
