I've been throwing big breakers most of my life. This was actually the first time I had the proper face shield/hood and used it. If you really want to put it in perspective. look at the wide open 'knife' switches and other equipment that used to power factories. Probably turned on and off bare handed by the custodian.
One of the practical things I lernt from MSHA was "never stand directly in front of a circuit breaker when switching it". Had a 100 amper grenade on me once. Not fun.