Lineman Rubber Glove Classes Explained (Class 00 to Class 4)

By Alan Cristoffer, Lead Lineman · Updated 2026-10-13

Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Details.

This page is general education, not training. Rubber goods must be issued, tested, and used under your employer’s program. Wear the class your work method requires.

Glove classes

Sources: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.137, ASTM D120 (gloves), ASTM F496 (in-service care). Values verified by our lineman reviewer, 2026-10-13.

Type I vs Type II: Type I is not ozone-resistant. Type II is ozone-resistant.

Testing intervals (OSHA 1910.137 Table I-6)

• Gloves: before first issue, then every 6 months
• Sleeves and blankets: before first issue, then every 12 months
• Check the test date stamped on the gloves. If they’re out of date, don’t use them.

Daily inspection

Before each day’s use, and any time you suspect damage:

• Air test (roll or inflate) and look and listen for leaks
• Check for cuts, punctures, ozone cracking, embedded objects, swelling, or texture changes
• Inspect your leather protectors too. They’re required over rubber gloves except in limited cases spelled out in the standard.

Extra warning layer: a personal voltage detector

Alan’s pick: Greenlee V-Watch. For storm work and any job around overhead or energized equipment, Alan recommends wearing a personal voltage detector (PVD) from Greenlee’s V-Watch series. V-Watch Pro (VWP-20H) on Amazon (Owner-verified preference)

What Greenlee says about the V-Watch (product page, brochure):

• Worn on the outside of your clothing at mid-torso. It alerts you to electric fields or energized equipment with a loud alarm (100 dB) and bright lights, and the alarm gets faster the closer you get.
• It detects AC voltage only, 50/60 Hz. Do not use it below 2,400 VAC line-to-ground.
• Typical initial warning distance is about 7 ft from a 4 kV AC conductor, and the distance increases with higher voltages.
• Runs on a field-replaceable 9V battery with a low-battery indicator. The Pro models (VWP-20H) add a mute button. The standard model is the VW-20H, and Greenlee also lists a next-generation VWS-20.

A PVD is an extra warning layer worn on you. It is NOT a substitute for testing with a proper voltage tester and grounding. Quiet doesn’t mean dead. Always treat a line as live until it’s confirmed dead, even if it’s lying on the ground. Test it, ground it, and follow your employer’s procedures every time. Self-test the detector before every shift, and always carry spare batteries.

Care

Store gloves in a glove bag, cuffs down.

Lineman’s tip (owner-verified): Cuffs down, every time. With the cuff facing down in the bag, dirt, metal shavings, and other debris can’t fall inside the glove, where it would wear or puncture the rubber.

Keep them away from heat, sunlight, and ozone sources, and never fold them. Follow ASTM F496 and your employer’s program.