ISSUE DATE: 03/24/06 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P06-05 

FROM: RAY McKINNEY

 Administrator for 

 Coal Mine Safety and Health 

SUBJECT: Requirements of Testing High-Voltage Gloves 

Scope

Coal mine operators, miners and miners’ representatives, Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) enforcement personnel, and other interested parties should 

have this information. 

Purpose

This program information bulletin summarizes and clarifies the requirements in Title 30 

of the Code of Federal Regulations (30 CFR) for testing high-voltage gloves used in the 

surface and underground coal mines. This bulletin is also intended to promote 

consistent enforcement of these standards. 

Information

30 CFR, Part 75- Mandatory Safety Standards- Underground Coal Mines specifies, 

addresses among other requirements, the requirements to work on trolley wires and 

high-voltage lines. Section 75.510 allows energized trolley wires to be repaired only by 

a person trained to perform electrical work and requires the mine operator to ensure 

that such person wears approved and tested insulated shoes and wireman’s gloves. 

This standard does not specify requirements for the testing and the frequency of testing 

wireman’s gloves. MSHA however, recommends that such gloves be tested every six 

months, in accordance with ASTM F496-97.
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Additionally, Section 75.705 prohibits working on energized high-voltage lines, except 

for high-voltage surface lines under the prescribed conditions specified in Sections 

75.705-5 through 75.705-8. One of these conditions is the requirement that the mine 

operator provides, tests, and maintains protective devices used in making such repairs. 

Under these standards each rubber protective device, including rubber gloves, is 

required to have 20,000 volt dielectric strength and be tested once each month. 

Section 75.705-9, which requires the person operating disconnecting or cutout switches 

from the ground to wear protective rubber gloves, does not address the testing or the 

frequency of these gloves. MSHA however, recommends that these gloves be tested 

every six months, in accordance with The American Society for Testing and Materials 

(ASTM) ASTM F496-97, “Standard Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating 

Gloves and Sleeves.” 

Section 75.818 requires that when energized high-voltage longwall cables have to be 

handled, insulated gloves, mitts, hooks, tongs, slings, aprons, or other personal 

protective equipment must be used. If gloves are used, the standard requires that they 

be electrically tested every six months, in accordance with ASTM F496-97. 

In addition, 30 CFR Part 77- Mandatory Safety Standards, Surface Coal Mines and 

Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines addresses, among other requirements, 

the requirements to work on high-voltage lines. Sections 77.606 and 606-1 require that 

energized medium-and high-voltage trailing cables be handled only by persons 

wearing protective rubber gloves that are rated at 20,000 volts and tested once each 

month in accordance with Sections 77.704-6 through 77.704-8. 

Section 77.704 prohibits working on energized high-voltage lines, except when repairs 

are made by a qualified person in accordance with the procedures specified in Sections 

77.704-1 through 77.704-11, and the protective devices are properly tested and 

maintained by the operator. Section 77.704-8 requires testing rubber gloves once every 

month in accordance with ASTM standards, Part 28, published February 1968. 

Finally, Section 77.704-9 requires that the person operating disconnecting devices and 

cutout switches on energized high-voltage surface lines wear protective rubber 

lineman’s gloves, except where such switches are bonded to a metal mat as provided in 

Section 77.513. This standard does not specify requirements for the testing and the 

frequency of testing such gloves. Again, MSHA recommends that these gloves be 

tested every six months, in accordance with ASTM F496-97. 
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Summary

Standard Testing Requirement Frequency of 

Testing 

75.510- Working on Trolley Wires None* None* 

75.705-5 through 705-8-Working on H-V 

lines ASTM F496-97 Once a Month 

75.705-9- Operating disconnecting or 

Cutout switches None* None* 

75.818- Handling LW Cables ASTM F496-97 Every Six Months 

77.606 and 606-1 -Handling Energized 

H-V Trailing Cables 

77.606 & 606-1- Handling Energized 

Low-Medium-Voltage 

20,000 Volts – 

For H-V 

1,000 V-Low-and 

Medium Voltage 

Once a Month 

Once a Month 

77.704-6 through 704-8 

Work on Energized H-V Lines ASTM Standards Once a Month 

77.704-9 None* None* 

* MSHA recommends testing every six months in accordance with ASTM F-496-97 

Note: If the glove has not been used for sometime after the date it was tested, the due 

date for the next testing would be based on the first time the glove has been used ( a 

record of this date should be made available to inspectors.) 

Background

There has been confusion between enforcement personnel and mine operators 

regarding the testing and frequency of testing requirements high-voltage gloves used to 

perform different tasks underground and on the surface. The standards addressing this 

issue are scattered throughout 30 CFR and vary. This bulletin clarifies the compliance 

responsibilities of underground and surface coal mine operators with these standards. 

Authority

Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and 30 CFR, Parts 75 and 77. 

 

Contact Person(s)

Coal Mine Safety and Health 

Salwa El-Bassioni, (202) 693-9525 

E-mail: el-bassioni.salwa@dol.gov

Internet Availability

This program information bulletin may be viewed on the Internet by accessing MSHA's 

home page at http://www.msha.gov by choosing "Compliance Info."
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Distribution

MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders 

Miners’ Representatives 

Coal Mine Operators 

Special Interest Groups 
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