What safety protocol must be strictly adhered to before any electrical component replacement?

Before any electrical component replacement, strict adherence to the Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) safety protocol is mandatory. Lockout/Tagout is a safety procedure designed to protect workers from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment during maintenance or servicing. The LOTO procedure involves several critical steps. First, all energy sources to the equipment must be identified. Second, the equipment must be shut down using established procedures. Third, all energy-isolating devices, such as circuit breakers, disconnect switches, and valves, must be physically locked in the safe or 'off' position. Each locked device must then be tagged with a warning tag indicating that the equipment is out of service and should not be operated. The person performing the maintenance or repair must attach their personal lock and tag to each energy-isolating device. This ensures that only they can remove the lock and tag, preventing accidental re-energization. Before starting work, the worker must verify that the equipment is de-energized by testing the circuit with a multimeter or other appropriate testing device. The voltage should be zero. If multiple workers are involved, each worker must apply their individual lock and tag. The LOTO procedure remains in effect until the maintenance or repair is complete, and all workers have safely removed their locks and tags. Bypassing or neglecting the LOTO procedure can result in serious injury or death from electrical shock, burns, or other hazards. For example, replacing a motor starter without properly locking out the circuit breaker could result in the motor unexpectedly starting, causing severe injury to the worker.