We use to work on rooms like that. We could re-direct distribution through the busbars using a long pole with a hook on it. The action had to be firm and smooth or the forks would arc and weld together, or blow to smithereens.
When I was at college we had an instructor who had half of 2 fingers missing,we all wondered why but wouldn't ask,one day we were doing something,I can't remember what it was and he decided to tell us a story. Apparently in his younger days he'd been quite senior in the local electricity board and was instructing a team carrying out work in a substation,in those days it was the norm for everyone to carry a steel ruler in their pocket,he was explaining what was coming out and what was being moved and pointing with his ruler.Unfortunately as he pointed at some busbars he was a bit too close to something and it flashed over,he said he was very "lucky" to just lose most of 2 fingers,unfortunately it also caused nerve damage and left him with the shakes,it looked like he had bad Parkinsons,he shook so bad he couldn't use a screwdriver.He was an excellent teacher though and his little story stuck in my mind,I always kept my hands in my pockets in subs and switchrooms and even today I always keep the "spare" hand out of the way when working.
Bloody hell that's old. The pendulums use to stick and did not work properly. Most people did not like to tap off them. That's if I am on the right track.
