What safety practice is crucial when working with live wires?

Ensuring circuits are properly grounded is a fundamental safety practice when working with live wires. Grounding provides a safe pathway for electrical current to travel in the event of a fault, thereby reducing the risk of electric shock or equipment damage. If a fault occurs in a circuit, a proper grounding system can direct the excess current safely into the ground, preventing it from passing through a person or damaging components.

Proper grounding is essential in electrical systems because it maintains the stability of the circuit and ensures that any excess voltage does not pose a hazard. This practice is critical in minimizing the risk of electrical accidents and ensuring the safety of the electrician and anyone nearby when working on live systems.

Other choices, such as wearing gloves only, using uninsulated tools, or ignoring voltage levels, do not offer the same level of protection and can actually increase the risk of electrical accidents.