If you notice a visibly damaged HV cable or connector, what is the immediate action?

• A. Do not touch it; isolate the area, warn others, and report to a supervisor or trained technician for replacement or repair.
• B. Wear gloves and touch it gently to assess damage.
• C. Ignore it.
• D. Try to wrap it with tape and continue.

Answer: (A)

When you spot a visibly damaged high-voltage cable or connector, the immediate action is to isolate the area, warn others, and report to a supervisor or trained technician for replacement or repair. Damaged HV equipment poses serious risks of electric shock and arc flash, and only qualified personnel should handle de-energizing, repairs, or replacements using proper procedures and PPE. Keeping others out of the area prevents accidental contact and helps ensure the fault is addressed safely.

Touching it or inspecting it personally, even with gloves, can still expose you to dangerous voltages. Ignoring the damage or trying to wrap it with tape is not a real fix and can lead to a fire or a higher-energy fault.