How to Prevent Cleanroom Contamination
Whether you are in the medical, bio-science, pharmaceutical manufacturing and other controlled environment, the work environment your employees and customers are exposed to must be safe and clean. Creating a policy for your cleanroom to prevent contamination of sterile materials allows your team to work more efficiently and provide the quality of service your customers and patients expect. Learning how to maintain a cleanroom and how to control contamination makes it easier to develop your cleanroom protocol the right way from the very beginning. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you start:
Observe Proper Gowning and Hand Washing Procedures
Automated hand washing stations, regular intervals for mandatory hand washing, and displayed guides to proper hand washing techniques all benefit the sterility and cleanliness of the working environment and those entering it.
Similarly, a clearly outlined gowning procedure, listing the order in which uniform items should be put on, and any tips to minimize contamination, should be displayed in dedicated gowning rooms.
Plan Out Your Work
Minimize uncontrollable variables within the cleanroom by planning out your work, gathering your tools and equipment, and anticipating your needs while in the cleanroom.
Schedules, production goals, and any other pertinent information that influences your work should be easily accessible and provided as soon as possible, so you have time to prepare yourself accordingly before entering the cleanroom.
Minimize Contact With Sterile Equipment and Products
Only handle the equipment you need to use. Avoid or minimize contact with items not directly related to your work as much as possible.
Pay Attention to Your Environment
Inspect and clean all your supplies and equipment before and after use with the appropriate cleaning products like those from Prudential Overall Supply. Ensure they aren’t showing any signs of punctures, tears, worn edges, or moisture.
Take Note of What’s Not Allowed Inside the Cleanroom
Make sure you know what can and can’t enter the cleanroom to minimize contamination. Items and actions that are not allowed inside cleanrooms include:
- Make-up
- Perfume
- Jewelry
- Touching your skin with your gloved hands
- Scratching your head
- Rubbing your hands
- Chewing candy or gum
- Pinning or taping notes on walls or equipment
Know Your Airflow
Take note of airflow patterns in your work area and adjust your work accordingly. Walk slowly to minimize disruptions to the airflow and avoid air turbulence.
Keep Your Workspace Clean
Tips for keeping your workspace clean:
- Keep tools, equipment, and supplies in their appropriate containers and locations
- Wipe up spills immediately
- Do not store sterile items on the floor
- Do not use regular cleaning products to clean your workspace
- Re-clean any object that has been contaminated
- Cover shelves to protect the items they hold from dust
- Wipe down the walls with a new, sterile mop dampened with appropriately rated cleaning solution
- Discard your gloves after every use, and avoid reusing or washing them
- Wash and wipe down windows on the inside and outside of the cleanroom—first with the appropriate cleaning agent and then with distilled water
- Regularly check on your cleanroom particle counters to ensure your environment stays in the optimum range
Prudential Cleanroom services, a division of Prudential Overall Supply is one of the leading providers of cleanroom facility services to medical, bio-science, pharmaceutical manufacturing and other controlled environment, and scientific institutions across the country. We understand the importance of ensuring a positive, regulation-compliant cleanroom experience for all who enter your premises. That’s why we stock everything you may need to keep your cleanrooms in the best condition possible.
This includes:
- Cleanroom uniforms, gowns, and protective equipment
- Cleanroom cleaning equipment
- Cleanroom-specific cleaning products
To learn more about preventing contamination in your cleanrooms, and how we can make it easier for you to do so, get in touch with us today.
