Working 'live,' while a part of the trade, is to be avoided if at all possible.
It's not 'professional' to take unnecessary chances. Leave you ego at home when you go to work.
I've found, over time, that I have unconsciously adopted practices that usually succeed in keeping me from getting shocked - even when I later learned that the circuit was actually 'hot.' Sure, mistakes and faults happen ... but it's foolish to tempt fate.
"Hurt yorself" is a poor criteria, and independent of voltage. It's noteworthy that the one electricution I witnessed involved a 20 amp 120 volt circuit. Nor will the 'little' shock be relevant, if the result is your falling from the ladder.
