Which action must be taken to secure the circuit before work begins?

Which action must be taken to secure the circuit before work begins?

• A. Ground the phase conductors
• B. Apply an approved tagout device
• C. Test with a voltage meter
• D. Immediately restart equipment

Answer: (B)

Securing the circuit before work begins relies on isolating it from all energy sources and preventing any accidental re-energization. The required step is to apply an approved tagout device to the energy-isolating means. This tag communicates that maintenance is in progress, identifies the responsible person, and tells others not to operate the equipment until the tag is removed by an authorized person. This control protects workers from shock, burns, or unexpected startup. Grounding phase conductors isn't the standard method to secure a circuit; while grounding can dissipate stored energy in some cases, it doesn't provide a reliable lockout and can introduce other hazards. Testing with a voltage meter is a verification step performed after isolation to confirm that energy has been removed, and it does not by itself secure the circuit. Immediately restarting equipment defeats the purpose of securing the circuit and creates an immediate danger. So the correct action is applying an approved tagout device.

Securing the circuit before work begins relies on isolating it from all energy sources and preventing any accidental re-energization. The required step is to apply an approved tagout device to the energy-isolating means. This tag communicates that maintenance is in progress, identifies the responsible person, and tells others not to operate the equipment until the tag is removed by an authorized person. This control protects workers from shock, burns, or unexpected startup. Grounding phase conductors isn't the standard method to secure a circuit; while grounding can dissipate stored energy in some cases, it doesn't provide a reliable lockout and can introduce other hazards. Testing with a voltage meter is a verification step performed after isolation to confirm that energy has been removed, and it does not by itself secure the circuit. Immediately restarting equipment defeats the purpose of securing the circuit and creates an immediate danger. So the correct action is applying an approved tagout device.