Conductive boot for power tool protection

A power tool assembly adapted for use adjacent a high voltage power line, the power tool assembly comprising:

• an insulative hot stick comprising opposing proximal and distal ends;
• a power tool supported by the distal end and comprising a housing which encloses at least an electrical load and a control electronics circuit to activate the electrical load responsive to the user interface, the housing comprising a first shield as a continuous layer of conductive material that nominally encloses the electrical load and the control electronics circuit, the first shield open at a battery pack receiving slot of the housing;
• a removeable battery pack mateable with the battery pack receiving slot of the housing to supply electrical power for use by the electrical load and the control electronics circuit;
• a removable protective boot adapted to surround the removeable battery pack upon engagement with the housing, the boot comprising a second shield as a continuous layer of conductive material that nominally encloses the removeable battery pack and overlaps a first portion of the first shield to form a combined shield that nominally encloses the electrical load, the control electronics circuit and the battery pack;
• and
• a user interface supported by the proximal end of the insulative hot stick configured to enable a user to activate the power tool assembly via a non-conductive communication link that extends along an overall length of the insulative hot stick, the communication link establishing communication between a user interface communication circuit of the user interface and the control electronics circuit.