Well lets consider this for a minute . Neutrals are grounded every say 7 spans. The general public can make contact with a ground or a grounded item ( example: air brake switch handle). So is the public at risk of injury by touching the air brake handle? Or should we warn our wives and children to stay away? Seems to me the purpose of grounding a piece of equipment is to make that equipment safe. Now with neutrals the system neutral grounds are installed say every 7 spans, but the integrity of the ground rods can be an issue, but some of them must be good. Now a quick check with a voltmeter would tell you if there was something on that neutral to be concerned about. Now are you breaking a neutral connection?Or just relocating the neutral to a new pole . Obviously in utilities with the ground to ground rubber glove rule then that applies, but what about utilities that do not follow the ground to ground rubber glove rule. Do you think it is safe to handle a neutral without rubber gloves? Do you jumper neutrals when cutting them? I have worked in utilities that did not follow the ground to ground rubber glove rule and I have never heard of anyone getting hurt just by touching a neutral, if that were the case then the whole concept of equipotential grounding needs to be re- evaluted. For that matter any type of grounding. If grounding is not safe what is?????