John,
I think that under 70E if you cause a tool, even an insulated tool, to contact the live parts, that you are "exposed to the live parts PPE is required. I don't have a copy of 70E at home to check. Also, it is very likely that give the available fault current, even using the hot stick will not place you outside of the arc flash area. I have seen calculations for MCCs that required level 2 or 3 protection over 10' away. Maybe this would not apply, if the hot stick is used to turn the operating handle of an enclosed switch, but I was thinking of the hot stick being used to pull a cut out.
Don
