How can workers establish safety in areas with high earth voltages?

Establishing safety in areas with high earth voltages is best achieved by developing an equipotential zone. This method involves creating a uniform electrical potential across a specified area, which significantly reduces the risk of electrical shock. In environments where high voltages might be present, differences in electrical potential can lead to dangerous step and touch voltages. By ensuring that all conductive parts and surfaces within the equipotential zone are at the same electrical potential, workers can safely move about without the risk of electrical hazards.

This is particularly important in settings like substations or electrical installations, where the likelihood of electric shock is elevated. The equipotential zone can be established using grounding systems, mats, or conductive surfaces to balance electrical potentials.

While isolating oneself completely and relying on supervisory staff are important aspects of safety, they do not address the underlying electrical hazards in the same effective way as creating an equipotential zone. Similarly, acoustic barriers do not contribute to electrical safety, as they are primarily used for noise reduction, not for managing electrical risks.