What should be done prior to permit work being performed in a manhole with energized equipment?

Before any work is performed in a manhole containing energized equipment, it is critical to ensure safety and compliance with established protocols. Testing the air quality stands out as a vital step. This procedure is essential for identifying any hazardous gases or lack of sufficient oxygen that may pose a risk to workers entering the confined space of a manhole. Ensuring that the air quality is safe helps to mitigate the risk of asphyxiation or exposure to toxic fumes, which is paramount when working in such environments.

While it is also important to notify workers in the area and establish emergency protocols, these steps come after verifying that the work environment is safe. Removing tools from the manhole, while potentially a safety measure, does not directly address the critical immediate risk associated with air quality, which could endanger any personnel entering the space. Therefore, testing the air quality is the most crucial step before any further actions are taken in the manhole.