Before working on a motor to prevent accidental starting, what should you do?

To ensure safety before working on a motor and to prevent accidental starting, removing the fuses is a critical step. This action effectively interrupts the power supply to the motor by ensuring that there is no current flowing through the system. By removing the fuses, you eliminate the risk of the motor being energized, which could lead to unexpected and potentially dangerous situations, such as the motor starting unexpectedly while you are conducting maintenance or repairs.

While turning off the main breaker, disconnecting the battery, and capping open wires are also important safety measures in certain contexts, they do not specifically address the need for eliminating the current flow to the motor as effectively as removing the fuses does. Each of these alternatives can be crucial depending on the specific circumstances and components involved, but removing the fuses provides a direct and immediate means of preventing accidental startup of the motor itself.