What should you do if your insulated gloves are damaged?

• A. Remove from service, do not use.
• B. Continue to use after inspection
• C. Patch the damaged area with tape
• D. Use them for non-live tasks

Answer: (A)

Damaged insulated gloves can no longer provide the dielectric protection you rely on. Any tear, puncture, or wear creates a path for current to get through, and damage can be hidden even if the glove looks okay at a glance. Because you can’t reliably know the level of protection after damage, the safe course is to remove them from service immediately and not use them.

Patching or continuing to use damaged gloves gives a false sense of safety; tape or repairs don’t restore the glove’s dielectric strength and can hide deeper damage. Even tasks labeled non-live can become energized, so damaged gloves should not be used for any work until they are replaced or professionally tested and certified safe.