One of the videos they showed during my arc flash training was a documentary of a guy who accidentally used a voltmeter on a live 2300V cabinet. The arc flash blew his clothes off and set him on fire. He stumbled blindly through the factory before finally collapsing.

I used to do meter work for the Power Company. I was taught that an arc flash would reach 40,000 degrees (F or C doesn’t matter, don’t ask), and could instantly vaporize tool-steel.

I have a melted pair of pliers to prove it. Luckily, I was probably the only worker who actually used my PPE and was fine.