What action is required before moving electric equipment with a broken pantograph to ensure clearance?

What action is required before moving electric equipment with a broken pantograph to ensure clearance?

• A. Remove the pantograph from service and continue.
• B. Proceed with caution without changing pantographs.
• C. Remove, secure, and/or properly isolate the broken pantograph(s).
• D. Lower the pantograph(s) only.

Answer: (C)

Before moving electric equipment under overhead lines when a pantograph is broken, you must treat the situation as a safety hazard and eliminate the risk of contact with live wiring. The pantograph is the device that takes power from the overhead wire, and a broken one can swing, snag, or poke into the live contact area, causing arcing, shorts, or structural damage. To ensure clearance, remove the pantograph from service, secure it so it cannot move or fall, and properly isolate the broken pantograph so it cannot energize any circuit. This may involve tagging and isolating the affected unit and ensuring it is physically restrained. Once the damaged pantograph is secured and isolated, moving the equipment can proceed with the risk minimized. Lowering the pantograph alone doesn’t address securing or energization, and proceeding with the pantograph in place or only lowering it still leaves a risk of unintended contact or energization.

Before moving electric equipment under overhead lines when a pantograph is broken, you must treat the situation as a safety hazard and eliminate the risk of contact with live wiring. The pantograph is the device that takes power from the overhead wire, and a broken one can swing, snag, or poke into the live contact area, causing arcing, shorts, or structural damage. To ensure clearance, remove the pantograph from service, secure it so it cannot move or fall, and properly isolate the broken pantograph so it cannot energize any circuit. This may involve tagging and isolating the affected unit and ensuring it is physically restrained. Once the damaged pantograph is secured and isolated, moving the equipment can proceed with the risk minimized. Lowering the pantograph alone doesn’t address securing or energization, and proceeding with the pantograph in place or only lowering it still leaves a risk of unintended contact or energization.