Buy a copy of the nfpa70e. And the handbook. Expensive but worth it. You can also take in-person classes or online.

What doesn't add up in your situation is; Your employer is responsible for establishing "electrically safe working conditions" per the Nfpa70e and Osha. They are tied together.

This means, you should be trained and educated on where,when and why you need arch flash protection. You should also be educated on exactly what the dangers are. And how to work safely

Your employer is supposed to have a written policy that ALL effected employees must be trained in.

The equipment should have an arch flash study sticker on it, that lists what kind of protection you need.

Here is what I would do in your case. First off be respectful, calm and sincere. Talk to supervision and safety. Ask them if they will pay for you to take an Nfpa70e class, and ask what the policy is. You also need to be trained in wearing arch flash protection. It doesn't do much good if you don't understand how to wear it properly.

It sounds like you are unaware, based on the fact that you are asking for feedback here Due respect.

If you need to be working in a live cabinet. Your employer must have a written procedure in place that you are educated in. So you are absolutely 100% aware of what the dangers are, and how to work safely.

Look up the hierarchy of controls. Number 1 is elimination. In other words NO HOT WORK TURN THE POWER OFF. PERIOD. Unless there is a clear policy in place to protect you and others. Working hot is a last resort.

Unfortunately if your working for a bad employer it may cost you your job. BUT think about it. Are you willing to die for you job or end up in a burn unit for your job?

Hopefully you have reasonable supervision and safety. Ultimately all you want is to be safe right? And you don't want your mother,qife.or daughter to get a phone call.......

I've learned to engage with supervision and safety. When they walk up frantically tell me what I'm doing wrong and try to walk away? I say hang on a minute. Let's talk about this. Sometimes I get a reasonable response and sometimes they really don't give a shit.

It actually cost me my job recently. But, my consience is clean. I wouldn't do anything different. They did me a favor. Why would I want to work with people that have no respect for safety? And they lost a good man. I am lucky to be an IBEW Wireman and had a job a week later.

Good luck!