I have been taught to treat every prop as live and do as such. On the aircraft I fly it is procedure to pull the prop through before first flight of the day to 'burp' the engine before checking oil level. Even though the engine is cold, and I make damn sure (Quadruple check) I check the mags are off, throttle is closed and park brake is on tight + chocks it is still slightly nerve racking. I find that as I pull I lean backwards, so that if by some miracle the engine fires I will most likely be out of the way and in a better position to run for my life...