What are the procedures used by linemen? It seems to me the would double check lines before working on them -- and possible safety measures like grounding to earth.
I would think that their double check would be to double check that the circuit (line) in question is actually switched off, and that there would be strict protocolls for that double and triple check.
What are the real working parameters for safety? Is there a possibility of arcing, or is avoiding direct contact adequite?
Are the lines insulated, or no?
Have a look at the insulators, those thingies that keep the lines off the poles. They're quite big and with lots of dishes that serves the purpose of increasing the distance along the surface (highly relevant when they're wet). That should give you some idea about what you're dealing with.
Insulation on the wire itself would hardly matter for a line in the kilovolt range.
With live kilovolt wires on the ground there essentially are no safety parameters to speak of. Too many variables, too high voltage.
Arching is not nescessary for killing you. No arching does not in any way imply that the area is safe - just that there is no "bzzzt" sound to warn you.
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