I was working for an electrical construction contractor out west when I was in the IBEW. The attitude then was get it done, and if you can't work it hot, then you need to find a different line of work. Anyway, the apprenticeship program had some pretty strict guidelines as to when the apprentices could start working hot panels and switchgear, etc. One young man had just gotten to the point of having permission to work hot gear, and was disassembling an MCC at a hospital. It was locked out of course and de-energized, however there was a parallel bus below the one that was locked out. His ratchet touched the live bus bar when he was reaching in an access bucket and he wound up being burned on both arms quite badly. Good thing he was right at a hospital. Spent over 7 months in the office. Needless to say, new guidelines for hot work. Too little too late.
I worked here in Detroit at a cement plant. There were 3 - 13.8KV mill motors, across the line start. Used 35 year old GE Magna-blast motor operated breakers. You had to stand in front of the breaker cubicle and operate a switch on a DC motor that would rack in and rack out the breaker. When you tested the breaker before install it would remain charged (closed). So when racking it in it would automatically trip and scare the **** out of you the first time. GE named them magna blast for a reason. One faulted and blew parts and oil all over the MCC room and completely bent the cubicle door. I asked one of the electricians one day what would happen if the breaker didn't trip or go open when we racked it in, would the motor try to start? No answer, so I assumed yes. I've dodged so many bullets my back hurts from bobbing and weaving. PPE was offered and available, but not required. Hmmm.