Grounding apparatus and method

A grounding apparatus array connectable to a power source and sized and shaped to be buried in the ground underneath a workspace adjacent to the power source to ground the workspace to prevent differences in electric potential between workers, the ground, and other equipment, said grounding apparatus array comprising:

• at least two grounding apparatuses sized and shaped for locating adjacent to each other to form the grounding apparatus array, each of said grounding apparatuses comprises:
• a frame including a head support and a tail support opposite the head support, a plurality of crossbars, each crossbar of said plurality of crossbars extending between the head support and the tail support;
• a conductor mounted on the frame and arranged in a cyclically oscillating pattern from a first terminal of the conductor adjacent to a first end of the frame to a second terminal of the conductor opposite the first terminal adjacent to a second end of the frame opposite the first end, wherein in each cycle of the cyclically oscillating pattern of the conductor comprises a first section extending along a first crossbar of said plurality of crossbars from the head support to the tail support, a second section adjoining said first section extending along the tail support from the first crossbar to a second crossbar, a third section adjoining said second section extending along said second crossbar from the tail support to head support, and a fourth section adjoining said third section extending along the head support from the second crossbar to a third crossbar of said plurality of crossbars;
• and
• a plurality of retainers located at intervals along the conductor to hold the conductor in position on the frame;
• wherein said at least two grounding apparatuses are connectable into the grounding apparatus array by connecting (i) one of the first terminal and the second terminal of the conductor of the first frame and (ii) one of a first terminal and a second terminal of the conductor of the second frame.

A method of installing a grounding apparatus permitting connection to a power source and burial in the ground underneath a workspace adjacent to the power source to ground the workspace to prevent differences in electric potential between workers, the ground, and other equipment, said method comprising:

• selecting a location for the grounded workspace adjacent to the power source;
• determining a length and a width of the workspace;
• selecting at least one grounding apparatus for placement underneath the workspace, said at least one grounding apparatus having a length and a width corresponding to the length and the width of the workspace, each of the at least one grounding apparatuses comprises:
• a frame,
• a conductor arranged along the frame from a first terminal of the conductor adjacent to a first end of the frame and extending along the frame and terminating in a second terminal of the conductor opposite the first terminal adjacent to a second end of the frame, and
• a plurality of retainers located at intervals along the conductor to hold the conductor in position on the frame;
• digging a hole at the location of the workspace coextensive with the length and width of the workspace;
• arranging the at least one grounding apparatus within the hole;
• connecting at least one of the first terminal and the second terminal to the power source;
• and
• filling the hole to cover the grounding apparatus.