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Are leather protectors always required?

Discussion in 'Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)' started by betabar, May 15, 2009.

  1. betabar New Member

    Are leather protectors always required when using rubber gloves? If so any recommendations as to sttles to increase dextarity.

    thanks
    betabar, May 15, 2009
    #1

  2. Mike Frain Administrator

    There is a company in Germany called KCL that manufacture insulated gloves but positively discourage the use of leather overgloves. The logic is that leather protectors will shrink in an arc flash incident and could break the wearer's fingers. Their gloves have an arc rating and I can vouch for the high level of dexterity but I must admit I'm a bit uncomfortable about not protecting the glove in some way. Hands will always sweat inside insulated gloves and all it takes is a tiny pinhole in the finger end to render the glove useless against electric shock which is the primary purpose of this particular form of PPE. The electro gloves from KCL can be viewed on

    http://www.kcl.de/KCLWebEn.nsf/d589...a33dd9cfb425bb92412569810044030a!OpenDocument

    Please note that testing is to European standards so check before you buy.
    Mike Frain, May 15, 2009
    #2

  3. Zog Well-Known Member

    There are 2 different exceptions.

    OSHA 1910.137 (b)(2)(vii)(A) Protector gloves need not be used with Class 0 gloves, under limited-use
    conditions, where small equipment and parts manipulation necessitate unusually
    high finger dexterity.

    Note: Extra care is needed in the visual examination of the glove and in the
    avoidance of handling sharp objects.

    (b)(2)(vii)(B) Any other class of glove may be used for similar work without protector gloves if
    the employer can demonstrate that the possibility of physical damage to the
    gloves is small and if the class of glove is one class higher than that required for
    the voltage involved. Insulating gloves that have been used without protector
    gloves may not be used at a higher voltage until they have been tested under the
    provisions of paragraphs (b)(2)(viii) and (b)(2)(ix) of this section.
    Zog, May 15, 2009
    #3

  4. Mike Frain Administrator

    Thanks Zog, I would like to pursue the assertion from KCL that Leather protectors shrink in an arc flash incident and wonder if anyone has any knowledge about the incident energy at which this may become a problem. Sorry Betabar if this is getting away from your original question.
    Mike
    Mike Frain, May 16, 2009
    #4

  5. Zog Well-Known Member

    I have a friend that has done extensive lab testing (Arc testing) on gloves, he has never mentioned anything about shrinkage. Sounds like a marketing ply to me.
    Zog, May 16, 2009
    #5

  6. JPEG New Member

    I know a guy who got his arms burned through his #2 coverall, but he had no damage to the hands and he had leather gloves only...
    JPEG, May 19, 2009
    #6

  7. Zog Well-Known Member

    Zog, Jun 4, 2009
    #7

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