Final answer:
It is unsafe to remove the grounding prong from a plug, as it eliminates a critical safety feature that protects against electric shocks, especially when appliance insulation is damaged. The grounding system ensures the appliance case is at zero volts, and a fault will trip the circuit breaker for safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, it is not safe to remove the grounding prong on a male plug to fit it into a two-pronged receptacle. The grounding prong serves a critical safety function by providing a low-resistance path directly to earth, which is particularly important if the insulation on the live/hot wire becomes worn and contacts the case of the appliance. If the earth/ground connection is intact and a fault occurs, the circuit breaker will trip, forcing repair of the appliance and preventing possible electric shock. This protection is lost if the grounding prong is removed. Some appliances have two-prong plugs because they have non-conducting, or 'doubly insulated', cases and do not require grounding. For example, power tools with impact-resistant plastic cases do not pose a risk of electric shock in case of insulation wear, and therefore do not need a grounding wire.