Which concept helps to minimize the potential difference across a worker's body?

Grounding is a critical safety measure in electrical systems. It serves to provide a safe path for electricity to flow back to the ground in the event of a fault, thereby minimizing the potential difference that could occur between different conductive surfaces. By establishing a connection with the earth, grounding ensures that any excess electricity is dissipated safely, reducing the risk of electric shock to workers.

When a worker comes into contact with electrical equipment, if that equipment is properly grounded, the potential difference across the worker’s body is significantly minimized. This is especially important in preventing injuries from electrical shock, as a lower potential difference means a lower voltage gradient that would cause current to flow through a person's body.

In contrast, terms like step potential and touch potential refer to the voltage differences that can exist when a person is near energized or voltage-carrying surfaces and can lead to dangerous situations. Fault current pertains to the excess current flowing during a fault condition but does not directly address how to minimize the potential difference across a worker's body during regular operations.