Which of the following statements about installing commercial cable is correct?

• A. Always pull cables with the power on.
• B. Use a metal fish tape around energized equipment.
• C. Never use a fish tape around energized equipment.
• D. Test insulation after installation only.

Answer: (C)

In this area, safety around live equipment is the controlling idea. A fish tape used to pull cables is often metal, which can conduct electricity if it comes into contact with energized parts. Contact can shock you, short a circuit, or cause an arc flash, so the safest practice is to never use a fish tape around energized equipment. Before pulling cable, de-energize the circuit and verify zero voltage, then use non-conductive pulling tools or methods if you must work near live parts, following lockout/tagout procedures. After installation, verify the work with insulation and continuity tests as part of a full verification process, not just at the end. The other statements describe unsafe or incomplete practices: pulling with power on is dangerous, using a metal fish tape around energized equipment can create a dangerous path for current, and testing insulation only after installation omits earlier verification steps.