Ryan I am not as positive as you are on this.
OSHA does not permit this at all, PPE or not.
I imagine you are referring to 1910.333(A)(1)?
One of the examples of an increased hazard allowing live work is simply removal of illumination for an area.
1910.333(a)(1)
"Deenergized parts." Live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall be deenergized before the employee works on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that deenergizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations. Live parts that operate at less than 50 volts to ground need not be deenergized if there will be no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs.
Note 1: Examples of increased or additional hazards include interruption of life support equipment, deactivation of emergency alarm systems, shutdown of hazardous location ventilation equipment, or removal of illumination for an area.
That said it's just a coffee shop, do it off hours, provide temp power or have a scheduled shutdown.
It always comes down to money, remember the people asking you to do this 'favor' are not taking the risk of a stay in the burn ward or worse.
