CleanroomsUSA

Rules for Cleanroom Personnel

The primary challenge associated with Cleanrooms stems from human presence, as individuals carry contaminants and microorganisms on their skin. To mitigate this issue, companies employ various measures to regulate the release of contaminants by personnel. A fundamental practice involves the adoption of specialized attire provided by cleanroom suppliers.

According to IQS, The ISO class of a Cleanroom determines the type of clothing that personnel are required to wear. OSHA has guidelines for Cleanrooms but does not have standards for protective clothing.

Listed below are the ISO 14664 clothing requirements for Cleanrooms.

Hood
Bouffant hat
Coverall
Inner suit worn underneath coveralls
Boot covers
Goggles
Facemask
Gloves

Cleanroom Clothing Factors

Must match the cleanroom‘s risk and hazard analysis.
Sturdy to avoid rips or tears
Disposable
Non-disposable when proper laundry is available
Sized to fit worker measurements
Delivered in individually vacuum sealed packaging and stored in a cleanroom environment

Disposable clothing is the most common option for Cleanroom clothing, which is disposed of in designated bins. The image below is of a "bunny suit" that is normally white and covers the whole body. All of the labeled items are disposable.

Rules for Cleanroom Personnel

Every company has their own set of rules for Cleanroom use. The list below is a general overview.

Entering and exiting – thoroughly wash and dry hands. Put on protective clothing. When exiting, dispose of all clothing and wash up a second time.
Cleaning – walls, floors, and work surfaces must be completely wiped down using SDS (Safety Data Sheet) chemicals. Also, anything that is brought in from the outside needs to be wiped down to remove potential contaminants/particles.

Hygiene – personal hygiene must include a daily shower, washing of hair, brushing of teeth, and approved skin care products. Workers should also avoid wearing cosmetics.
Clothing – personnel may be required to completely change from their street clothing prior to entering the cleanroom. Wool is often prohibited due to the static electricity that it produces.
Work pace – personnel must move slowly at an even pace to avoid air turbulence.
Dropped items – items dropped or have fallen on the floor, they are not to be picked up.
Tools and supplies – are organized and stored in properly labeled containers and cabinets. In addition, items that generate particles are avoided, such as wood, paper, cartons, pencils, etc.