Despite the potential for serious injuries and fatalities, gloves were not considered when arc flash standards for clothing were first developed in the 1990s. For years electrical industry safety experts wanted the same type of rating on gloves as they had for clothing and face shields. After all, the hands are usually closer to the hazard than any other part of the body, says Hugh Hoagland, senior consultant, senior consultant, e-Hazard.
Progress has been made in the past 20 years. The ASTM F2675-13 Standard Test Method for Determining Arc Ratings of Hand Protective Products Developed and Used for Electrical Arc Flash Protection, published in 2013, determines the arc rating for hand protective products used when electrical arc flash is an assessed hazard.