Step one of working around batteries is knowing how to avoid sparks!
The best way is to start with the assumption that you may slip enough when being careful, so do a few things to protect against the slips that will happen if you do it often enough.
Step one is to open any battery cutoff switches your RV has. That reduces the chance of any large power being drawn. Reduces the chance of large arcing when cables are removed.
Step two is to place some form of insulation cover between where your tools will be and anything metal. This cover doesn't have to be anything specific or great, just enough to keep something like the end of a wrench from touching metal like the edge of the battery box, clamps, etc. One of the handier things to use are lots of thick rags as they are easy to tuck in around things but still be back out of the way. Tape them if you need but not often necessary. For a new guy, just pretty well cover everything metal except the battery posts!
Learn to never let go of a wrench near the battery and certainly do not lay the wrench on the battery top! They get into the wrong places.
Then when ready, remove the negative cable first. Once that is off and metal contact is out of the question, the circuit is dead and you can go to work without worry of shocks or flashes from arcing.
Clean any loose junk off the batteries, wipe any traces off that go from the posts outward, then check the water levels and top off up to the rings down inside the cell openings. Don't overfill, just up to those rings as you don't want water and acid to bubble out to ruin your corrosion cleaning. Clean the posts and cables and put them back, positive first then negative. If some form of anti- corrosion is on hand, use it. I like one called No-Ox which is a paste that is really nice to rub on after it is heated just a bit to melt it slightly. . I lay it on a trouble light for a few minutes to heat! If air doesn't get to things, they don't corrode as much so worth the effort.
Replace all cables, check for tight but don't try to kill things too tight. Remove rags and test it all.
I taught power to folks who had never been techs and only knew keyboards and typewriters before becoming outside techs, so you can do it without doubt. Just stay a bit nervous and that keeps you thinking and safe.
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