What can you do to reduce or eliminate the possibility of receiving an electric shock when working on electrical circuits?

• A. Turn off the power on the circuit you are working on. Tag the circuit you are working on. Lock the disconnect in the OFF position.
• B. Leave the circuit energized for testing.
• C. Wear insulating gloves only.
• D. Use a higher voltage tester.

Answer: (A)

Eliminating stored energy from the circuit and preventing it from being re-energized is the safest approach when working on electrical circuits. The best way to do this is to turn off the power to the circuit and apply a lockout/tagout: place a lock on the disconnect so the power cannot be restored, and attach a tag to inform others that work is in progress. This creates a physical and visible barrier that stops accidental or unauthorized re-energizing while you’re performing the task.

After isolating the circuit, verify that it is actually de-energized with a properly rated testing device before touching any conductors. The lock and tag mean that only the person who applied the lock (or someone with authorization) can remove it, which dramatically reduces the chance of a shock from re-energizing the circuit unexpectedly. Wearing insulating gloves alone or leaving the circuit energized for testing does not provide reliable protection, and using a higher voltage tester does not de-energize the circuit. Following lockout/tagout procedures is the reliable way to minimize shock risk.