What action must be taken if the power line being worked on is equipped with an automatic recloser?

When dealing with power lines equipped with an automatic recloser, it is essential to ensure safety during maintenance or repairs. Making the reclosing feature inoperable prevents the power line from automatically re-energizing unexpectedly, which can create hazardous situations for the workers on-site. An automatic recloser is designed to restore power after a fault is detected, and if it is not disabled, it could cause electrical hazards or accidents by re-energizing the line while workers are still engaged in their tasks. This action is a crucial safety measure to protect the crew from the dangers of electrocution or other injuries that could arise from the line becoming live unexpectedly.

While it’s also critical that power lines are de-energized before work begins, and barricading the area can help control access, disabling the recloser specifically addresses the risk posed during operations when the line could potentially come back to life without warning, hence making it the most appropriate action in this situation. Providing additional protective equipment may enhance safety but does not mitigate the immediate risk of an automatic recloser re-energizing the line.