You might not have got an electrical shock yourself, but I bet you were mentally shocked at seeing it happen,!

To be honest, it scares me way more thinking about it now, what tye outcome could have been, than it did the 24 (? - the time is flying) years ago when it actually happened (back then for me it was just a laughter an wondering why the boss looked so scared, young, careless just past-teen...). But I do remember it very well... :-)

I got shocked by a washing machine. I was pull the plug out of the wall and touched the prongs

I got shocked by a washing machine. I was pull the plug out of the wall and touched the prongs

That's why here in the UK we have sleeved pins, so that the metal part is not accessible when they are in contact with the actual live parts of the socket. 

That's why here in the UK we have sleeved pins, so that the metal part is not accessible when they are in contact with the actual live parts of the socket. 

We play the dangerous game here!

We play the dangerous game here!

So did we up until 1987 when legislation came in banning them from being sold. But they're still found on older appliances over 3 decades later.! 

So did we up until 1987 when legislation came in banning them from being sold. But they're still found on older appliances over 3 decades later.! 

Regulations? Who needs silly regulations! I will say your modern plugs are nice, unless you step your foot on them, must hurt!

Regulations? Who needs silly regulations! I will say your modern plugs are nice, unless you step your foot on them, must hurt!

I totally agree, with the design of plug we have here, you have to try really hard to touch the live parts when pulling a plug out of a socket. 
And trust me it really hurts when you step on one.!!!!     

Regulations? Who needs silly regulations! I will say your modern plugs are nice, unless you step your foot on them, must hurt!

If you think treading on a plug hurts (and yes, it does  ) wait until you tread on this     

If you think treading on a plug hurts (and yes, it does  ) wait until you tread on this     

Oh dear god no! I have stepped on lego before but this is a new brand of evil.

I totally agree, with the design of plug we have here, you have to try really hard to touch the live parts when pulling a plug out of a socket. 
And trust me it really hurts when you step on one.!!!!     

Well, we may have bare metal prongs and yet there is no way you could touch them while still connected, include plug being only partially in the socket. So no need for such huge crazy shapes, that like to penetrate your feet when stepping on it.
The beauty of recessed socket, with simple to make so robust round contacts, with a rim around the plug. Only the plugs that aren't filling the recess (so you may touch the pins), the pins must be sleeved. But these are used only for low currents (below 2.5A) and for class II devices (so no grounding required), so not that big deal, they are then pretty flat.

But I was amazed, how easy it was with the US plugs to touch them when live (even a falling dinnerware knife may easily cause short circuit), when seing them first time...

Our system requires fused plugs, so making them smaller would be difficult. . I can understand why people from other countries may feel differently, and everyone is entitled to their opinion, so I'm not going to argue.

But then I'm probably biased, I've lived with them and used them all my life and I think they're the safest plugs in the world 

One time years ago, I accidentally touched a live wire (120V) when trying to troubleshoot a malfunctioning 3-way switch with the power on (the person I was with didn’t shut the power off). The current felt like it was vibrating rapidly, and was moving through my finger, so let go. In the end I was fine, and the 3-way switch was repaired and works today.

Remember, always flip the breaker before performing troubleshooting.

UPDATE: I own a Ideal voltage tester, and now I do my own electrical work (as I plan to be a licenced electrician), taking the necessary safety precautions.

Remember, always flip the breaker before performing troubleshooting.

And always assume it is still electrified, even when the braker has been switched off, until you prove it otherwise by test. It quite often happens to be a "wrong breaker"...

One time years ago, I accidentally touched a live wire (120V) when trying to troubleshoot a malfunctioning 3-way switch with the power on (the person I was with didn’t shut the power off). The current felt like it was vibrating rapidly, and was moving through my finger, so let go. In the end I was fine, and the 3-way switch was repaired and works today.

Remember, always flip the breaker before performing troubleshooting.

Always check yourself that the power is off, never rely on somebody else doing it, they might have not done it, or tripped the wrong breaker. 

Always check yourself that the power is off, never rely on somebody else doing it, they might have not done it, or tripped the wrong breaker. 

Not only that, make sure that the power cannot be switched back on. Many breakers have a means by which you can attach a small padlock to them to prevent this. At the very least, put a large label on the breaker panel saying WORK IN PROGRESS, DO NOT SWITCH ON.