Do you remove an AC Capacitor from the circuit before or after you short it out for safety?
Always short the capacitor as early into the disassembly process as you can.  You may accidentally discharge it when handling it or removing it from the unit, and these components have enough energy to kill you.

I make sure to wear jeans and leather boots with a rubber sole when discharging capacitors, and always when it's relatively dry out.  I keep my left hand behind my back and short the capacitor leads with a screwdriver that has an insulated handle.  After about ten seconds of shorting, I double-check that the voltage across the leads is zero before considering it safe.