Airbags, steering columns and digging to find a noise in the fan....

[Jaded Old Coot]

So I'm trying to dig the fan out of the car to try and cure a noise... I'm at the point of removing the steering column, and following the destructions in the workshop manual... haven't got a bloody socket to fit the airbag retainers on the steering wheel.... am I likely to set off the bag if I reef the whole column out with the wheel installed?