Steering Column Service

I'm replacing the blinker switch on my '96 toyota corolla and realized that if I do the wrong stuff in that area, the air bag will go off. What should I do to safely service the area?

if you diconnect the battery and wait ten or fifteen minutes the air bag sensor will loose its power and disarm. when you remove the airbag do not drop it set it down gently do what you need to do to the turn signal lever then put everything back and reconnect the battery.