Prevent Clean Room Contamination With Proper Personnel Procedures

For companies that work in clean rooms, the procedures and behaviors of their employees is very important. Personnel that don't follow clean room behavior open up the project and the materials to contamination.

Top 9 Clean Room Behavior Procedures to Prevent Contamination

Fast Movements

A person just standing still creates 100,000 particles at 0.5 mm/min as compared to a standard person with arms, head, and body moving which increases the particles by 10 times. Once, a person starts to walk the particles per 0.5 mm/ min increase to 5,000,000 which can lead to contamination just by walking by materials too fast.

Proper Position

It is important to position yourself in such a way as while working that you don't have to lean over to add undue potential for particles, fibers, and microbes to fall onto the material. If you are using unidirectional air, position yourself in a way that doesn't put you between the air flow and the materials you are working on.

No Touch Techniques

It is considered best if you can manipulate materials without having to use your hands. Though wearing gloves does reduce potential contamination the risk still exists. Using long forceps is a great way to keep your hands from interacting with materials or even containers.

Wafer Handling

When handling a wafer holding around the edges it is the best way to reduce potential issues though there is still a risk of oil and skin particles to contaminate. Using gloves reduces the risk of contamination further.

Vacuum Wand

Vacuum wands are used in semiconductor facilities to handle wafers to reduce potential threats. Robotic arms increase the probability of keeping your clean room materials free of particles.

Not Against the Body

Clean room clothing has fewer particles than normal factory attire though they are not completely free of fibers and microorganisms that could potentially cause problems. Don't put clean room materials against your body for this reason.

No Talking

Talking or coughing around products or materials sends contaminates into the air which can cause issues. It is important to turn away and replace any not dirty apparel or equipment after an episode. Also, important to keep your mask above your nose at all times. Stay Away from Clean Room Surfaces

Though clean room surfaces and clothing are freer of bacterial and fibers that cause contamination, the less you can touch any of the clean room surfaces with gloves or your body is recommended. Particles from masks can interact with clean room surfaces that later get transferred to the materials you are working on.

Wash Gloves

Depending on the materials and procedures used it may be appropriate to wash gloves. A seventy percent ethanol disinfectant is often used in aseptic pharmaceutical procedures.


Copyright (c) 2010 Rod Hoss