Gloves and Protectors

[st1976]

Hi All,

Here in CL&P territory we are allowed to cut and reconnect on residential services. I have read many of the treads regarding PPE and am looking to buy a pair of voltage rated gloves and protectors.

I'm looking for any recommendations and comments on what people are using. I'm especially interested in what gloves anyone has found that give you dexterity to work with hand tools.

Those of you that wear gloves when bugging up a service... do you wear the protectors too?

Thanks for the info.

 

[charlie]

If you are following the safety rules, you will wear rubber and protectors since leather is not voltage rated.

 

[zog]

Hi All,

Here in CL&P territory we are allowed to cut and reconnect on residential services.

Allowed by whom? OSHA, NFPA 70E, and NESC all say otherwise.

I have read many of the treads regarding PPE and am looking to buy a pair of voltage rated gloves and protectors.

Salisbury is the only manufacturer of rubber gloves in North America now.

I'm looking for any recommendations and comments on what people are using. I'm especially interested in what gloves anyone has found that give you dexterity to work with hand tools.

The class of your glove is based on the voltages you are working on, not by what you feeel like using.

Those of you that wear gloves when bugging up a service... do you wear the protectors too?.

Wow, I highly suggest you get some training on electrical safe work practices and PPE requirements before you get you self killed.

 

[electricmanscott]

I see no reason to be rude to the guy, he asked a very good question and for those of us that actually work in the field every day the question is real.

 

[zog]

I see no reason to be rude to the guy, he asked a very good question and for those of us that actually work in the field every day the question is real.

I don't think suggesting someone should get the required safety training so he dosent get hurt as being rude.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

zog,
Linemen do this type of live work every day...are they also in violation of the safety rules, or are there different rules for linemen/utility workers?

 

[big john]

St1976: For doing services up through 480V, pick up some Salisbury Class 00 500V gloves and protectors. The gloves offer a lot of dexterity, they're almost like heavy dishwashing gloves. I always wear the pig-skin protectors: They don't take away much more dexterity and give you a much greater margin of safety.

Originally Posted by st1976
Those of you that wear gloves when bugging up a service... do you wear the protectors too?

Wow, I highly suggest you get some training on electrical safe work practices and PPE requirements before you get your self killed.

Zog, he isn't so out of line asking this: More than once I have come across literature from suppliers of linemans gloves that says leather protectors are not required for Class 00 gloves. And if he's bugging services, that's probably what he'd be using.

I don't agree with that idea, and I don't practice it, but it is out there in "official" literature.

-John

 

[st1976]

Thanks for the replies.

If you look at the treads regarding PPE you will see there is a very broad range of what people use right or wrong. There are a couple threads on bugging services and the replies on what people are using for PPE ranges from full PPE to bare handed and no glasses. I think the reality is most people fall somewhere in the middle. The guys I work with are more the bare handed type so I don't have anyone to ask.

I was just looking for more info from those of you that use gloves as to what you like.

Big John, thanks for the info. This is what I am looking for.

 

[st1976]

Cut and Reconnect

Cut and Reconnect

Allowed by whom? OSHA, NFPA 70E, and NESC all say otherwise.

This may be true but in CL&P it is expected that the EC does the cut and reconnect on residential services. It is not allowed for commercial services.

http://nuwnotes1.nu.com/apps/clp/clpwebcontent.nsf/AR/CutTapPolicy/$File/Cut%20and%20Reconnect%20Policy.pdf

 

[wtucker]

I'm in CL&P territory, too (and UI). If you check with the safety departments there, you'll probably get a different opinion.

As to the dexterity issue, try getting gloves that actually fit! They come in different sizes, you know.

 

[electricmanscott]

This may be true but in CL&P it is expected that the EC does the cut and reconnect on residential services.

Same thiing in my area which is why I pointed out that for us in the field this is a real question.

 

[jmd445]

Here is a good web site to visit.
http://www.arcsafety.com/
Make sure your gloves are comfortable and fit right, if they are not comfortable you'll be less likely to wear them. See the catalog on sizing.

Make sure you measure you hand to get the right size and order glove dust.

Jim

 

[st1976]

I'm in CL&P territory, too (and UI). If you check with the safety departments there, you'll probably get a different opinion.

What is their stand on the topic?

 

[wtucker]

I once dropped a dime on an electrician who'd--get this--disconnected at the weatherhead to move the service, then supplied temporary power to the job by wiring a piece of Romex directly to the service drop, down the wall, through a penetration and across the floor where guys were walking, to a job-built double duplex outlet box with no GFCI that was feeding the compressor for the nail gun, etc. Obviously, no OCPD, and a questionable ground. Now, obviously this isn't a cut and reconnect, but after I called the safety guy, they had a truck there in 20 minutes to disconnect at the pole. I won't go into what else he said, but let's just say they don't want electricians working on their live drops.

 

[wtucker]

Just read the policy hyperlinked above. The event I just described involved UI, not CL&P, and occurred before CL&P issued the hyperlinked policy in 2008. I may have misunderstood, but the UI guy I spoke with seemed clear that they don't want anyone outside the company fiddling with their service. Maybe this CL&P policy is related to the fact that they just laid off four dozen field guys. Anyhow, the CL&P policy covers cut and reconnect, not dangerous, jury-rigged hack temp service.