Ballast + lamp. Putting all together
The earth connection should be a ring terminal under the screw.
With the earth connection it will be safe to touch the ballast case in all circumstances

Dry wood does not conduct electricity, nor does it pose a fire threat due to electrical faults

I'm not a big fan of those pliers crimp connectors. (but that's personal opinion)

The ballast will be safe and come to no harm with no lamp connected. 

Some sort of strain-relief clamp should be arranged on the jacket of the appliance cord
so that yanking the cable does not disturb the connections.

I would not expect the ballast to get hot get hot enough to start a fire