Whether building a new lab or renovating the old one, don't forget about the safety of the bystanders. Develop a Public Hazard Control Plan.

The purpose of the Public Hazard Control Plan is to evaluate and reduce to a minimum the hazards to the public identified through analysis of the project prior to the commencement of work and throughout the process. This is where effective and open communication and discussion must occur before the work starts. This is particularly important, as most contractors will be unfamiliar with the requirements for working in laboratory facilities especially if the laboratory will continue to operate during the project. A phased approach to safety program elements will often need to be implemented. Start with groundbreaking and move through all the phases of the project when identifying hazards, contamination issues, and considering solutions. It is critical for the facility management to participate in this process, as some of the proposed solutions by the contractor may be incompatible with the ability to properly run a laboratory. 

Hazards to consider include:

Noise – Noise may impair the ability to conduct normal operations and discussion. Impact noise may startle and cause secondary hazards. Noise, if loud enough, may interfere with the ability to hear audible warnings such as fire alarms.

Dusts, Fumes, Mists, Smoke, and Vapors – Though these seldom reach hazardous levels for building occupants, they often result in a rash of complaints, lost work time from headaches/general malaise, and occasionally cause building evacuations from activation of smoke detectors. Ventilation throughout the life of the project is an important consideration.

Pedestrian Hazards – Safe walking surfaces and routes must be provided. This includes maintenance of required emergency egress and evacuation routes for all. ADA issues must also be addressed. Where sidewalk closures occur, safe alternate paths must be provided. Where carts must be rolled, the surface must be adequately maintained.

Utilities – Where utility interruptions are required (electricity, steam, chilled water, etc.) the outage must be planned in advance to identify what accommodations are required for the freezers, fume hoods, and refrigeration.

From: Construction Safety for Those on the Sidelines by The Safety Guys