If equipment contacts an energized line, which of the following techniques are included as measures of protection?

• A. Use best ground to minimize exposure to energized line, bond to maintain equi-potential. Use ground mats, use insulating protective equipment or barricades.
• B. Only use insulating protective equipment.
• C. Barricades alone are sufficient.
• D. Ground mats are unnecessary.

Answer: (A)

When equipment touches an energized line, the goal is to minimize a worker’s exposure by creating an equipotential scenario and providing barriers and protective gear. The best protection comes from combining several measures: establishing a solid grounding path to keep the potential of exposed conductive parts aligned with the system ground, bonding all exposed conductive surfaces so they share the same potential, and using ground mats to reduce surface and step potential around the work area. Adding insulating protective equipment provides personal protection against contact or arcing, and barricades help keep unauthorized personnel away from the hazard.

Relying on insulating gear alone doesn’t address potential differences or the paths current can take if a fault occurs. Barricades without a grounded, equi-potential environment don’t reduce the electrical risk if someone inadvertently contacts a live surface. Ground mats or bonding without other protections also leaves gaps. By layering these measures—grounding, bonding, mats, insulating PPE, and barricades—the worker’s exposure to hazardous voltages is minimized in multiple ways, making the approach much more robust.