Let's emphasize your need to work towards safety and to implement what you have learned in your jobs and your lives; it will also help you see how you can get more involved and make an even better and safer electrical industry.
If your PPE were readily accessible, a lot of hesitation would be removed from the above equation and, more than likely, you would have completed this job with the appropriate gear.
With the pressure of a depressed economy, knowledgeable contractors are seeing more and more work going to electricians who are working outside their areas of expertise.
Developing good connection techniques and understanding what makes a good connection are the hallmarks of a professional electrician.