[[I'm interested in any ideas suggestions from friends.]]
Setup:
    Double check that all high voltage lines are where they should be, and any 
    blast shields are oriented correctly.

    Make sure someone (safety) is far enough from the experiment at a safety switch or 
    breaker, and can turn power off immediately.

    Place any discharge means for cleanup/shutdown, make sure discharge means is working before power on.
    test the discharge means with a nonlethal voltage.

    If the experiment is run with one side to the outside, a safety needs to 
    be at a safe distance to warn or scare away any people or animals.

Experiment:
    The person running the experiment should go over the exact sequence of 
    events with the safety or safties.

    The person running the experiment should talk out loud each step of the operation, so safety can hear.

    Anyone who can see the person doing the experiment should holler out if they see something that looks dangerous.

    The first run of an experiment after a change, should be done at reduced voltage 
    and max current, then slowly ramped up looking for issues.

Cleanup/shutdown:
    Power should be switched off, and verified as off.

    Any capacitors should be discharged through previously set up discharge means.  
    This includes wet diodes.

    A complete walkthrough the entire area should be done 
    first by the operator with the safety watching, 
    then the safety with the operator watching.  Special attention should be 
    paid to any hazardous materials or still charged voltages accesable by 
    small animals, children or the uninitiated.