True or False: Equipment and vehicles connected to a common ground will protect workers only if they are standing on a conductive mat.

The statement is false because equipment and vehicles connected to a common ground provide a level of electrical safety that is independent of whether workers are standing on a conductive mat. Grounding is a fundamental protection mechanism designed to ensure that any stray electrical currents are carried safely to the ground, minimizing the risk of electric shock to workers regardless of their standing surface.

In practice, grounding equipment and vehicles protects all personnel in the vicinity, as the electrical potential is equalized, effectively reducing the risk of electrical hazards. While conductive mats can enhance safety by providing additional grounding points, they are not a prerequisite for the effectiveness of grounding systems in protecting workers. Therefore, relying solely on the condition of standing on a conductive mat demonstrates a misunderstanding of how grounding mechanisms function in ensuring safety within electrical environments.