Final answer:
Grounding protects from electric discharges by offering an alternative low-resistance path for the electricity to flow into the earth, thus reducing the risk of it flowing through humans or sensitive equipment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Grounding can offer protection from electric discharges primarily by providing an alternate path for the discharge. When a system is grounded, a conductor is connected to the earth with a good conductor, which can be fixed at zero volts. This means that, in the case of an unintended electric discharge, the current will preferentially flow through the grounding system into the earth rather than through other paths which might include a person or sensitive equipment. Working with one hand while wearing insulated shoes is an additional safety precaution that reduces the risk of providing a pathway for current flow through the body.
In contrast, grounding does not work by increasing resistance, decreasing voltage directly, or increasing capacitance. Instead, it effectively diverts electric current by ensuring that there is a path of least resistance that leads electrical energy safely into the ground.