Many home appliances and power tools are made safer by using what?

The use of 3-wire cords and plugs significantly enhances the safety of home appliances and power tools. This type of cord includes three conductors: two for carrying current (live and neutral) and a third that serves as a ground. The grounding wire provides a pathway for electrical current to safely return to the ground in the event of a short circuit or fault, reducing the risk of electric shock.

In contrast, 2-wire cords and plugs only have two conductors and lack the safety benefit of grounding, thereby increasing the potential for electrical hazards. The other options, while they may relate to certain aspects of device design, do not offer the same level of safety in terms of grounding and preventing electrical accidents as 3-wire configurations do.