Final answer:
OSHA defines 'grounded' as lacking an electrical connection to any potential difference and not carrying a different potential from the Earth. Grounding is a safety tool to prevent electrical charges from flowing through unintended paths, often through the use of insulated shoes, working with one hand, and grounding metal cases of appliances.
Step-by-step explanation:
OSHA defines the term grounded as being "free from an electrical connection to a source of potential difference and from electrical charge; not having a potential that is different from the earth." Grounding refers to the process of establishing a direct electrical connection to the earth, allowing for a stable voltage of zero and providing a path for electric charge to flow directly to the ground. This is an essential aspect of electrical safety because it ensures that electrical equipment and conductors do not have a voltage difference with respect to the ground, preventing the flow of unwanted electrical currents.
Our bodies, being good conductors of electricity, are at risk when in contact with a voltage source and ground. The use of insulated shoes and practicing to work with one hand are crucial precautions to prevent electric charge from flowing through the body. In addition, grounding the metal cases of electrical appliances is a typical example of implementing this safety tool to avoid electric shock, since it makes the case an equipotential surface with the Earth.