What must be done after lines and equipment are deenergized before they can be considered dead?

To consider lines and equipment as dead, grounding them is a crucial step. Grounding provides a path for any induced or residual current to safely flow to the ground, mitigating the risk of electrical shock or equipment damage. This is especially important after deenergization because even when equipment is turned off, there can still be a considerable voltage present due to capacitance in the system or nearby live circuits. By grounding, any remaining voltage is neutralized, ensuring safety for personnel who may work on or near the equipment.

It's also essential to understand that while tagging out, tracing back to an open point, and implementing lockout/tagout procedures are valuable safety measures, they do not substitute for grounding. Tagging alerts personnel that the equipment is not to be operated, tracing back ensures isolation from all sources of supply, and lockout/tagout enforces a safety protocol against accidental energization. However, none of these steps directly address the necessity of providing a grounding path to confirm that the lines and equipment are truly dead. Thus, grounding is the definitive action required for ensuring safety around deenergized electrical systems.