All too often, boxes are damaged after being backed into by a truck, hit by a forklift, etc. Only once have I ever seen something done about it...
When Eagle ( now part of Lowes) was building their second "box" store here, the layout was almost identical to the first store. One difference, of which I heartily approve is that in this store, they had "ears" of 1/4" steel welded to the posts on either side of the outlet, phone, or what-have-you that was mounted on the post.
The code does reference protecting things from mechanical damage. I'd like AHJ's to see this sort of damage as proof that additional protection is needed.
