Joe,
I wouldn't disparage for a second that anyone should work in panels where there is other Live equipment, without the use of PPE, including Safety Glasses.
Most of my HV training, included, minimisation of the Arc Flash Risk.
Even to this day Joe, I get heckled by fellow Electricians for using Neoprene covers clipped on busses in 400V switching panels.
Sure it takes a lot longer to do a given job, and I quote accordingly.
These are the same sheets us Lineys use on 11kV-66kV Live Glove and Barrier work.
These cover all of the switch-gear apart from the equipment being worked on
The simple point being Joe, if you minimise the risk to the point where an accident cannot happen, you should be pretty right.
That's the one idea I really try and instill into any Apprentice that I train.
But wearing PPE is MOST important!. [Linked Image]