After lines and equipment are deenergized, what must be done before they are considered dead?

The process of deeming lines and equipment as "dead" is critical for ensuring safety during maintenance or repair work. Grounding is the key step that must be taken to ensure that any residual or induced voltage is safely dissipated before the equipment or lines can be considered truly dead. When equipment is grounded, it provides a pathway for electrical energy to flow harmlessly into the ground, thereby reducing the risk of electrical shock or arc flash hazards for workers.

Although tagging, disconnecting, and inspecting are important safety practices, they do not guarantee that equipment is free of electrical energy. Tagging is used to identify that equipment is being worked on and should not be re-energized, disconnecting removes the source of power, and inspecting ensures everything is in safe condition. However, none of these actions alone address the potential presence of voltage that could still be present due to capacitance or other factors. Grounding ensures that any such potential is mitigated, making it the critical step before considering the equipment as dead and safe for maintenance.