It seems like I hear too many people getting either electrocuted or knocked off their ladder by lights.... all because someone didn't hit the disconnect or the "manager" of the place didn't want the lights out.
I got a better idea.... use a system similar to the old tube radios: an interlock plug or switch. If you remove the lamp cover, the ballast terminals become de energized and the always on terminals are insulated well. This way bulbs, sockets and even the ballast itself could be safely changed without being exposed to live conductors. The switch would likely not need servicing for the life of the fixture, so it would be rarely messed with.
The other way would be an intermittent duty manually actuated switch (its not used all the time so it can be kinda cheap.) or a plug that you pull that contains a jumper. The input to the jumper block or switch is recessed so it wont easily be touched and the output terminals are accessible only once the jumper block has been removed or in the case of the switch, a cover moves out of the way of the terminals once it is slid to the open position.
