Cover-up equipment is finding increasing usage on all types of high-voltage line maintenance. Most of the individual pieces can be installed with rubber gloves, or else they are equipped with hot stick application eyes. Common sense rules must always be followed when using cover-up equipment. These rules include:

1. Cover-up equipment (such as line covers, insulator covers, cutout covers, and deadend covers) is intended to prevent personnel from making accidental brush contact with energized parts or equipment. Under no conditions should personnel purposely contact the covers, except with adequate rubber gloves, and personnel must always be aware of their position in order to avoid accidental contact with the cover.
2. Cover-up equipment (such as pole covers, crossarm guards, crossarm end covers, and pole top covers) is intended to help prevent accidental contact of energized tie wires or conductors with the grounded surface of the pole or crossarm.
3. Cover-up equipment must be handled with care to minimize breakage and scratching, and it must be kept clean. Maintenance is as important with cover-up equipment as with hot line tools. Each cover must be thoroughly inspected before each use to ensure that it has no cracks, deep scratches, or gouges and to ensure that it is clean. Cleaning should be done with a wiping cloth, and if that does not remove all dirt, mild soap and water should be used. Polyethylene covers can be cleaned with Chance Moisture-Eater II solvent-cleaner (see Catalog Section 2500). Caution: Solvents must be avoided unless the user can determine that the material in the particular cover is polyethylene.
4. For Temporary Use - Cover-up equipment is designed to be as light and easy to use as possible, hence it is not made from materials that can withstand extended periods of electrical stress. Therefore, Chance cover-up equipment must not be left installed for extended periods, especially if allowed to touch both an energized surface and a possibly grounded surface. The situation would be highly aggravated in rainy or humid weather, when the surfaces of the covers become dirty, etc. Therefore, the covers should be removed at the end of the workday, if at all possible.