I used to work more stuff live than I do now. It is mainly because of the type of discussions here that has made me second guess the wisdom in risking damage to tools and equipment, injury, and death. Also, a couple of well placed spatterings of moltent steel (on cheek, just below my unprotected bare eyeball) although noneventful, really made me think, although death is less likely when taking these risks, permanent maiming is more likely.

I've never done anything over 110 live. Well, I shouldn't say never, but those installs I don't think I'd ever do again. I even had a T-12 lamp blow up in my face changing a bulb live. Now I don't do that anymore either.

I'll confess, the little residential stuff, changing swtich or outlet etc. I'll still do live with certain precations, but nothing commericial. I think you're better off and more professional to have everyone log off and take five rather than try to be a hero and accidently kill what could cumaltivly add up to hours worth of work that gets wiped out because it wasn't saved.

As far as changing it hot because if I don't, the next guy will, let him. As I've gotten more experienced and more confident, I've realized there are different levels of profesionalism and expertise. The better you are, the less swayed you need to be by what the other guy is doing. You only need to explain why YOU do (and don't) do what you do. The grocery store manager that thinks he's got the store's best interest in mind by requiring you to do it hot, what would his bosses think, or their insurance provider, or their saftey department?

I think if more of the quality guys put their foot down, then the only guys left that will do it live would be the yahoo's and they will eventually proove themselves not worth doing business with (theoretically).

All in all, it's up to you to decide what is worth risk, and what type of people you want to work for. There is always a way to figure to work something dead. I think it shows very poorly of a person that puts prouctivity and convinence above the saftey of their contractors.

I've found that when I turn down working for those types, it frees me up to find better customers, and then I try to appreciate and hold on to the good ones I have.