Final answer:
To ensure safety, antennas should be disconnected or de-energized before maintenance to avoid the risk of electric shock. Lockout and tagout procedures should be implemented to isolate electrical sources. Maintenance workers must take precautions even if antennas appear to be inactive.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before performing maintenance on or near antennas, it is important to disconnect or de-energize the antenna to prevent energizing. Antennas can carry a high voltage, especially if they are transmitting signals, which poses a risk of electric shock or burns to individuals working on or near them. To ensure safety, pertinent switches should be turned off and locked out, and warning signs should be placed to make others aware that maintenance is being performed.
Lockout and tagout procedures are a standard safety measure to ensure that any potential sources of electrical energy are properly isolated and not accidentally energized. These procedures involve placing a lock and/or a tag on the isolation point to inform others that maintenance is being performed and that the equipment should not be turned on. Furthermore, even when an antenna seems inactive, it could become inadvertently re-energized, so proper precautions will always be necessary.