What safety mechanisms do earthing and bonding systems employ, and how do they mitigate electrical hazards in residential and industrial settings?

Q: What safety mechanisms do earthing and bonding systems employ, and how do they mitigate electrical hazards in residential and industrial settings?   A: Earthing establishes a controlled low-impedance pathway for fault currents to dissipate into the ground, activating protective devices like circuit breakers or fuses during overloads. For example, when a live conductor contacts an appliance chassis, the earthing conductor diverts current to earth, triggering immediate power disconnection and preventing lethal touch voltages. UK-specific implementations often utilize dedicated green-and-yellow earth wires to ensure consistent fault current routing.   Bonding, conversely, equalizes electrical potential across all exposed conductive surfaces—including pipework, metal frames, and equipment enclosures—eliminating dangerous voltage differentials between touchable components. This interconnection prevents electric shock scenarios where individuals might simultaneously contact two objects at varying potentials. When integrated with earthing systems, bonded networks create a comprehensive protective scheme that safeguards both personnel and equipment by channeling fault energy away from critical infrastructure and human contact points.