If you do not follow proper gowning techniques, when entering a cleanroom, you risk contamination of the environment and damaging the products in process. Take the time to periodically review standard cleanroom protocols with staff members. This will help prevent unwanted incident.
Take the time to review the following techniques with your staff members to prevent contamination in your cleanroom environment.
PRE-GOWNING
Upon arriving, staff members must do a preliminary cleaning of their exposed skin and everyday clothing.
· First, remove any coats or sweaters then wash hands, face and lower arms with cleanroom-approved sanitizing soap to remove makeup, skincare products and dirt.
· When entering the Cleanroom, it is recommended to walk over a tacky mat with each foot making contact with the mat 2-3 times.
· After entering the gowning room area, you will then place shoe covers on each foot, one at a time, swinging each foot over the gowning bench to the clean side of the gowning room.
COVERING BODY
Cleanroom garments should never touch the floor during gowning. Gowning racks and/or benches are a good idea for an easy transition into the protective clothing.
· If wearing coveralls, you should tuck the lower leg coverings into cleanroom approved boots. If at any time the coveralls or other gowning items tear, the dressing process should start over with fresh garments to reduce possible contamination.
o Use boot snaps to secure them to the coveralls.
· Hands should be covered with gloves that fit snug over the sleeves of the coveralls, so no skin is exposed. The material will depend on the industry and what’s least reactive to the working environment.
· Popular choices include latex, neoprene, nitrile, vinyl, or tri blend chemical glove.
COVERING THE FACE & HANDS
Whether you are a male or female, it is required to wear head coverings, such as a bouffant cap, and should you have facial hair such as a beard, you must also use a beard cover.
· All hair and your ears should be completely covered.
· Proper garments fit snug, with no gaps around the nose or mouth.
Some cleanrooms, depending on the products produced, will also implement hoods, goggles, face shields and face masks.
· These reduce contamination to protect your product as well as prevents contact from potential skin irritants.
· In some cases, you may be required to put on a second layer of gloves before proceeding to the cleanroom workspace.
· Supplies and tools needed in the cleanroom should be thoroughly wiped down with an isopropyl alcohol solution, then moved through a material pass-through room to enter the cleanroom.
As a leader in Scientific Equipment Repair and Medical Equipment Calibrations, Scientific Instrument Center works with many corporations, universities, and hospitals providing the highest level of laboratory services. Whether we are providing biosafety cabinet calibration or medical equipment calibration, we keep your equipment performing to industry codes and regulations. Feel free to contact us at (614) 771-4700.
