Which scenario requires de-energizing equipment before maintenance to maintain safety around overhead lines?

• A. Working near energized pantographs/overhead lines.
• B. When the weather is hot.
• C. When maintenance is already completed.
• D. When removing a door.

Answer: (A)

Working near energized pantographs and overhead lines creates an immediate electrical hazard. When equipment is energized, there is a real risk of electric shock, arc flash, or unintended re-energization if you make contact or come within arcing distance. De-energizing and isolating the system removes the energy source, enabling maintenance work to be done safely and reducing the chance of severe injury. The other scenarios don’t inherently involve the electrical energy state of overhead lines—hot weather doesn’t change the electrical energy status, maintenance already completed isn’t a safety trigger for ongoing work, and removing a door is a mechanical task that doesn’t address overhead-line hazards unless energy is involved.