The correct application of personal protective grounds is critical to worker safety and is strongly emphasized in NETA safety practices. When installing grounds, theequipment end must be attached first, ensuring the grounding conductor is securely bonded to earth or an effective ground source before any connection is made to energized or potentially energized conductors.
This sequence minimizes the risk of electric shock. If the phase conductor were connected first and the grounding system was not yet established, the worker could become the path to ground in the event of accidental energization. Once the equipment end is secured, phase conductors can be safely grounded.
When removing grounds, the reverse order is required: phase conductors are disconnected first, and the equipment end is removed last. NETA Level 2 technicians must follow this sequence consistently during maintenance, testing, and commissioning activities to ensure compliance with safety standards and prevent serious injury.