(1) Rubber insulating equipment designed for the voltage levels to be encountered shall be provided and the employer shall ensure that they are used by employees as required by this section. The requirements of WAC
296-24-980 Safeguards for personnel protection, shall be followed except for Table 2.
(2) The employer is responsible for periodic retesting of all insulating gloves, blankets, and other rubber insulating equipment. This retesting shall be electrical, visual and mechanical. The following maximum retesting intervals shall apply:
Table 2
Gloves, Blankets and Other Insulating Equipment | Natural Rubber (Months) | Synthetic Rubber (Months) |
New Reissued | 12 9 | 18 15 |
(3) Protector for gloves. Approved protectors must be worn at all times over rubber gloves. Inner liners may be worn if desired.
Exception: | Protector gloves need not be used with Class O gloves, under limited-use conditions less than 250 volts, 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. |
(4) Gloves and blankets shall be marked to indicate compliance with the retest schedule and shall be marked with the date the next test date is due. Any rubber gloves found to be defective shall be removed from service and marked as being defective.
(5) Patching rubber goods is prohibited; rubber protective equipment shall not be vulcanized or patched.
(6) A pair of rubber gloves shall be issued and assigned to each employee when required to work on or be exposed to energized parts. Employees shall not use or share gloves issued to another employee.
(7) Rubber gloves when not in use shall be carried in an approved bag provided and designed for that purpose. It shall be provided by the employer and made available to the employees.