Dave Swanson, IAMU Electric Training & Program Specialist
The cleaning of personal protective equipment has always been an important factor in maintaining the wearer’s health and the equipment’s maintenance. Currently we know that social distancing, hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer is critical in preventing the spread of COVID19. But what about those us wearing or even sharing, rubber gloves and sleeves. Is alcohol-based sanitizer safe to use to clean our hands? Should it be used to clean rubber gloves and sleeves?
A recent article provided by e-Hazard, a company that specializes in the testing and care of arc flash personal protective equipment and voltage-rated gloves and sleeves, addresses these questions.
The article was written by Hugh Hoagland, an expert in arc flash and testing of protective equipment. Hugh states alcohol based sanitizer is acceptable to use in certain conditions and gives other alternatives to clean VR gloves. Please take the time to read the entire article at the link below. I also contacted David Skarshaug with Skarshaug Testing Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. This is his response to me:
“The information you sent all appears to be valid information. I know both Hugh and the V.O. (the Salisbury expert referenced in the article) from ASTM. I tend to caution on the use of bleach, but everything else (the use of mild detergents, hand sanitizers, alcohol wipes, etc.) seems to follow. We also offer a Rubber Goods Cleaner cleaning wipe (RBG-1, sold individually or by boxes of 144) made by Polywater that can be used for cleaning gloves as well. When in doubt on using any other products on the rubber goods, make sure the contents have no petroleum product in them.”
You can read the entire article at this link.
The cleaning of personal protective equipment has always been an important factor in maintaining the wearer’s health and the equipment’s maintenance. Currently we know that social distancing, hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer is critical in preventing the spread of COVID19. But what about those us wearing or even sharing, rubber gloves and sleeves. Is alcohol-based sanitizer safe to use to clean our hands? Should it be used to clean rubber gloves and sleeves?
A recent article provided by e-Hazard, a company that specializes in the testing and care of arc flash personal protective equipment and voltage-rated gloves and sleeves, addresses these questions.
The article was written by Hugh Hoagland, an expert in arc flash and testing of protective equipment. Hugh states alcohol based sanitizer is acceptable to use in certain conditions and gives other alternatives to clean VR gloves. Please take the time to read the entire article at the link below. I also contacted David Skarshaug with Skarshaug Testing Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. This is his response to me:
“The information you sent all appears to be valid information. I know both Hugh and the V.O. (the Salisbury expert referenced in the article) from ASTM. I tend to caution on the use of bleach, but everything else (the use of mild detergents, hand sanitizers, alcohol wipes, etc.) seems to follow. We also offer a Rubber Goods Cleaner cleaning wipe (RBG-1, sold individually or by boxes of 144) made by Polywater that can be used for cleaning gloves as well. When in doubt on using any other products on the rubber goods, make sure the contents have no petroleum product in them.”
You can read the entire article at this link.
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