How does an equipotential zone protect a worker?

An equipotential zone is implemented as a safety measure in environments where workers might be exposed to electrical hazards. This zone establishes a uniform electrical potential across a defined area, which significantly mitigates the risk of electrical shock. By providing a bypass for body current paths, the equipotential zone ensures that if a worker comes into contact with an energized conductor or surface, the electrical current will preferentially flow over the ground path rather than through the worker's body.

This is particularly crucial in outdoor settings or substations, where varying ground potentials can create dangerous scenarios. The current can find a less resistive path through the ground if the equipotential zone is established properly, minimizing the risk of serious injury or fatality. Such a design reinforces worker safety by capitalizing on the principle that, when body current paths are uniformly managed, the likelihood of harmful current passing through an individual is significantly reduced.

The other options do not accurately describe the function of an equipotential zone in protecting workers from electrical hazards. Limiting exposure to electrical fields and providing insulation are important safety measures but do not specifically detail how an equipotential zone operates. Similarly, the notion of eliminating electrical connections does not pertain directly to the protective mechanism of an equipotential zone.