• Noise – Noise may impair the ability to conduct normal operations and discussion. It may cause stress in housed animals. 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 animals or the services they require (e.g. cage wash, autoclave, etc.).
• Other areas discussed include: lighting, radiation, machinery and vehicles, falling objects, security, pollution control, hazardous materials, vibrations and subsidence, actions for injuries and damage, and an emergency action plan. The ANSI standard has a non-mandatory appendix that essentially serves as a hazard protection plan template to help meet the requirements of the standard.
   

One area of note not covered in the standard is “hot work” (e.g. welding, soldering, grinding metals) while in occupied buildings. We strongly recommend adoption of a “hot work” permit process. This should be included in any Public Hazard Control Plan as contractor initiated fire is a very real possibility.