What action should be taken when a circuit breaker trips?

When a circuit breaker trips, the appropriate action is to switch it off and then on to reset it. This is the correct procedure because a tripped circuit breaker is a safety mechanism that indicates a fault in the electrical system, such as an overload or a short circuit. By switching it off first, you ensure that the circuit is de-energized, and then when you switch it back on, it allows the breaker to reset safely.

Thus, following this procedure allows for the possibility that the fault may have cleared, and it permits the normal operation of the circuit to resume without having to replace any components unless the issue persists. While other actions could involve inspecting for and addressing the cause of the trip before resetting, the immediate action of switching it off and then on is the standard procedure for resetting the breaker.