What is a critical safety practice when working with pressurized systems?

Depressurizing the system before maintenance is a crucial safety practice when working with pressurized systems. This step is essential to prevent accidents and injuries that could arise from the release of pressurized fluid or gas. When systems are under pressure, there is a significant risk of sudden explosions or leaks if they are tampered with without proper precautions. By fully depressurizing the system, you significantly reduce the risk of hazardous situations, ensuring that maintenance can be performed safely.

Monitoring pressure levels and using personal protective equipment, such as rubber gloves, are important safety measures as well; however, they do not specifically address the immediate risks involved when performing maintenance tasks. Similarly, using only manual tools is a matter of tool selection and doesn't directly mitigate risks associated with pressure. Thus, while all safety practices are valuable, depressurizing the system is fundamental to protecting the worker's safety during maintenance activities.