Pinemarten,
I hear you there!. [Linked Image]
I supervise a few apprentices from time to time and a few you just have to keep your eye on, but the majority of them know the ways of the world and it is generally a given thing to test before touch.
The biggest thing about the incident that happened over here was the fact that the guy should never have been working on a Network (Distribution Main) cable, as niether the apprentice or his boss were qualified Line Mechanic's.
What had happened was the fact that an excavator operator had dug up the cable and had snapped it, the Neutral screening had contacted two of the 3 phases in the cable, but the other was still live.
The Electrician, had agreed to fix it for the digger driver, before the PoCo found out.
Damn!!, you'd say!! [Linked Image]