Paul,
There are some interesting comments here,
just thought I would bring this one up again.
Nowadays over here, we are required to re-locate the meters outside, where any serious work happens on the switch-board inside, the likes of changing the Main Switch or replacing the Neutral/Earth busbars or installing a new Main Earthing Lead.
BTW, all of the above work has to be inspected too, before the CoC, can be legally filled out. [Linked Image]