Gapped ground safety device

A safety device for protecting a worker from accidental energization or potential rise due to ground fault events of a distribution cable, comprising a main insulated gap formed between two conductors, one conductor being adapted for electrical connection to ground and the second conductor being adapted for electrical connection to said distribution cable, a precision gap between said two conductors, and connected in parallel with said precision gap a surge arrester and a resistor in series, wherein said surge arrester has a voltage rating below the breakdown voltage of said precision gap whereby said surge arrester prevents said precision gap from flashing during a ground fault event up to said voltage rating, and, wherein said main insulated gap comprises the two opposed conductors electrically separated by said insulation extending into a region proximate to said precision gap, whereby when said precision gap flashes, insulation in said region is destroyed and a short circuit forms between said conductors.