What is the purpose of maintaining clear live-line tool distances?

Maintaining clear live-line tool distances is crucial for ensuring compliance with safety standards that correspond to different voltage ranges. These standards dictate the minimum distance that live-line tools must be from any energized parts to prevent electrical shock or arcing, which can pose serious risks to personnel working on or near high-voltage equipment. By adhering to these safety distances, workers can perform their tasks while minimizing the danger posed by electric currents, thus maintaining a safe working environment.

The other aspects of maintaining clear distances, such as visibility or tool longevity, while they may have relevance, do not primarily address the essential safety concern that the standards are designed to mitigate. Speeding up work can increase productivity but is secondary to the paramount need for safety when working with live electrical systems.