Why Electricians Must Carefully Inspect Their Rubber Gloves—And How to Do It Right

For electricians, rubber insulating gloves are often the last line of defense between life and death. They're not just another piece of PPE. They're critical safety equipment designed to prevent electrical current from traveling through the body. But even the best gloves can fail if they’re damaged, contaminated, or improperly tested.

What makes inspection so important is that electrical hazards don’t need a large gap to cause harm. A hole too small to see with the naked eye can be large enough for electricity to arc through, especially at high voltage. Moisture, dirt, chemicals, and tiny punctures all compromise a glove’s insulating properties. That’s why OSHA and ASTM standards require rigorous inspection and testing of rubber gloves before every use—not just once a month or at the start of a shift.

How Electricity Finds a Way In

Electricity follows the path of least resistance. If there’s even a pinhole, tear, or thin spot in a rubber glove, it becomes the point of entry. Voltage can easily jump through these micro-defects, especially in high-humidity or damp conditions, and the resulting arc can cause devastating burns, cardiac arrest, or fatal shock.

Many electricians mistakenly believe that if a glove looks okay, it is okay. But visual inspections alone aren’t enough. Invisible cracks or ozone damage can silently destroy the glove’s dielectric strength over time. That's why every glove must also be air tested before use.

How to Properly Inspect and Air Test Rubber Gloves

Here’s a simple and effective inspection and testing procedure that aligns with ASTM F1236 and OSHA 1910.137 guidelines:

1. Visual Inspection

• Look for cuts, punctures, embedded objects, or cracking.

• Flex the glove to expose ozone damage—look for fine cracks in the rubber, especially around the fingers, palm, and cuff.

• Check for chemical degradation: sticky spots, discoloration, or swelling.

2. Air Inflation Test (Field Method)

• Inflate the glove manually or with a portable glove inflator. Do not overinflate.

• Seal the cuff to trap air inside (use a clamp or roll the cuff and hold).

• Gently squeeze and rotate the glove, listening and feeling for escaping air.

• Submerge the inflated glove in water if needed to detect bubbles from micro-leaks.

• Hold the glove for a full inspection—don’t rush this step.

3. Inspect the Glove’s Class and Date

• Make sure you are using the right voltage class (Class 0 through Class 4).

• Verify that the glove has not passed its expiration date. Rubber gloves must be retested every 6 months per OSHA if not used, and must be removed from service if damaged or out of compliance.

4. Don’t Forget the Leather Protectors

• Never wear rubber gloves alone during energized work. Leather protectors must always be worn over insulating gloves to prevent mechanical damage.

Final Thoughts

Inspecting rubber gloves isn’t busywork, it’s a life-saving ritual. A five-minute inspection can prevent a tragedy. Teach your team to take glove testing seriously and make it a non-negotiable part of your pre-job checklist. Remember: once electricity finds a way in, it doesn’t give second chances.