Glossary of Workplace Injury Law Terms
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GFCI (Ground-fault circuit interrupter): A device that detects an insulation failure by comparing the amount of current flowing to electrical equipment with the amount of current returning from the equipment. Whenever the difference is greater than 5 milliamps, the GFCI trips and thereby interrupts the flow of electricity.
Ground: A conducting connection, intentional or unintentional, between an electrical circuit or equipment and the earth, or to some conducting body that serves in place of the earth.
Ground-fault: A fault, or insulation failure, in the wire used to create a path to ground.
Grounding: To prevent the buildup of hazardous voltages in a circuit by creating a low-resistance path to earth or some other ground plane.
Guarding: Placement of live parts of electrical equipment where they cannot accidentally be contacted, such as in a vault, behind a shield, or on a raised platform, to which only qualified persons have access.
Guardrail system: A barrier erected to prevent employees from falling to lower levels.
