According to grounding principles, what do protective grounds provide around a worker?

Protective grounds are essential in electrical work, especially in preventing electrical hazards. The correct choice highlights that protective grounds create a low resistance parallel shunt, often referred to as the "Equipment Protection Zone" (EP Zone). This configuration allows electricity to be safely diverted to the ground, minimizing the risk of electrical shock or arcs during maintenance or repair activities.

The low resistance helps ensure that any stray currents or fault currents are effectively directed away from a worker, providing a reliable safety barrier. This principle is central to maintaining safe working conditions near energized equipment or during the maintenance of de-energized systems.

In contrast, other choices do not accurately describe the function of protective grounds. A high voltage area would imply a zone where high voltage levels could pose hazards to workers, which is not a protective measure. An insulated work zone denotes a situation where electrical isolation is in place but does not provide the necessary ground connection to enhance safety. Lastly, a floating ground region suggests a lack of connection to the earth, which would not create the effective safety barrier required.