Laborordnung (Englisch)

Entry to Cleanroom (ISO Class 8)

The cleanroom is accessed through the personnel airlock, which is divided into a transition area and a clean area by a barrier. Wearing street clothes is allowed in the transition area. However, before entering the personnel airlock, ensure that footwear is cleaned of any coarse dirt (use a doormat). In the transition area, jackets and bags are to be placed in the wardrobe.

When dressing, follow this sequence; reverse the order when exiting:

• Hair cover (mandatory)
• Beard or mouth cover (for beards 3 days or longer)
• Cleanroom coat (mandatory) → check in the mirror to ensure it's fully fastened.
• Cleanroom shoes or shoe covers (mandatory)
• Gloves (optional)
• ESD wristband (optional)

The cleanroom is accessed through the personnel airlock, which is divided into a transition area and a clean area by a barrier. Wearing street clothes is allowed in the transition area. Ensure that footwear is cleaned of coarse dirt (use a doormat). In the transition area, jackets and bags are to be stored in the wardrobe. The sequence of dressing must be followed to minimize contamination of cleanroom garments.

Clothing and Personal Items

The type of clothing worn under cleanroom garments affects the distribution of airborne particles and fibers. Personal home clothing made of natural fibers such as wool or cotton, when worn under cleanroom garments, spreads contamination. Personal items should be left in a secure area outside the cleanroom. Jewelry such as rings, watches, and necklaces can puncture cleanroom gloves or hang out from masks, hair covers, or sleeves and should be avoided.

Cosmetics, talcum powder, hairspray, nail polish, or similar materials are undesirable in the cleanroom. Their risk to the product or process should be assessed. Cosmetics can generate particles that contaminate the cleanroom garments, the cleanroom, and products manufactured there. Therefore, their use may be prohibited.

Hygiene

Thorough personal hygiene is expected from cleanroom personnel. Employees should control dandruff and use specially formulated skin lotion instead of skin oils after washing or showering if needed. Employees must report any issues that may increase contamination in the cleanroom before starting work. Such issues include flaky skin, dermatitis, sunburn, or severe dandruff; colds, flu, or chronic cough; allergic reactions that lead to sneezing, itching, or scratching; and, in bio-cleanrooms, high microbial contamination from personnel.

Depending on the severity of the conditions in relation to the process or the product being produced, it may be necessary to assign these employees to workplaces outside the cleanroom until these conditions no longer exist. In certain cleanrooms, it may be necessary for employees to refrain from smoking for a defined period before entering the cleanroom.

Discipline and Behavior

• No food or drink is allowed in the cleanroom.
• Smoking is strictly prohibited in the cleanroom.
• Smokers must not have smoked for at least 30 minutes (TBC) before entering the cleanroom.
• Only authorized personnel may enter restricted work areas.
• Do not run.
• Doors should not be opened and closed quickly, nor should they be left open.
• When performing tasks that generate microparticles (e.g., soldering, grinding, drilling), an exhaust system must be used.
• Work surfaces must be kept clean, and no items should be left lying around.
• Cabinet surfaces must be kept clear.
• Areas designated by the projects must be cleaned twice a week.
• Traffic routes, especially escape and emergency routes, must be kept clear.
• Cleanroom personnel should not hold materials against their body, as this can transfer contamination.
• Cleanroom personnel should speak as little as possible when near the product.
• Cleanroom personnel should not let anything slide over the product.
• Nose blowing should take place outside the cleanroom. Gloves should always be changed afterward.
• While in the cleanroom, personnel should avoid touching, scratching, or wiping areas of the skin. Otherwise, it may be necessary to return to the changing area to put on fresh gloves.
• Cleanroom wipes should be used according to instructions and disposed of in the appropriate waste container.
• The room should be kept organized and tidy.
• Products stored or left in a cleanroom should be protected from contamination and stored in a clearly labeled closed cabinet, container, or low-turbulence cabinet, or covered with a sheet.
• Flammable materials must not be left in open containers after work is completed.
• Any damage caused by teams to walls, floors, doors, cabinets, tools, or measuring equipment belonging to the hall must be reported immediately via the teamsite.
• When guests are brought into the cleanroom, they must be instructed on the rules of behavior.

Bringing Material into the Cleanroom

• The outer airlock is entered in street clothes.
• The outer protective cover should be vacuumed, first from the top, then from the sides.
• The inner part of the packaging is then placed on the large table, and step 2 is repeated for the inner packaging.
• The inner packaging should be wiped with an appropriate cleaning agent, and gloves must be worn.
• If the inner part did not come from a cleanroom, the inner packaging must also be opened on the table, vacuumed, and wiped.
• The material is then passed through the door into the material airlock.
• The employee, dressed in cleanroom attire, accepts the material in the material airlock.
• The material is placed on the cleaning table and wiped down with at least isopropanol.
• If necessary, materials must be sterilized in an ultrasonic bath (for screws) or an oven.
• All transport equipment and handling devices should also be cleaned according to the procedures described above.

Waste Reduction and Disposal

• Disposal of wipes, small foils, and other small materials is done through the waste bins available at the workplace.
• Larger packaging must be removed through the gray containers in the outer airlock.

Exiting the Cleanroom (ISO Class 8)

The cleanroom is exited through the personnel airlock, where the person moves from the clean area to the transition area and uses the wardrobe to change. The cleanroom coat is hung on a hanger on the wardrobe stand. If the coat is visibly dirty, it is placed in the dirty laundry bin. Shoe covers are placed together in the compartment. If the shoe covers are dirty, they are placed in the dirty laundry bin. Hair covers, gloves, and masks are disposed of in the waste bin.

Special Notes

Use of the Overhead Crane

• A crane operator's license must be presented to the lab supervisor before using the overhead crane. Additionally, a work order from the institute director must be available. When using the overhead crane, both crane operating rules must be followed, and personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn. The crane hook must be checked for cleanliness.

Safety Helmet

• Employees must wear a safety helmet when loads are moved overhead, and objects may fall or move and injure the head. A marked (or cordoned-off) area must be designated where crane work is performed. All employees within this area must wear safety helmets and safety shoes! Exceptions can be made for bystanders.

Safety Shoes

• Safety shoes must be worn during all crane operations within the designated area.

Safety Gloves

• If the employee is acting as a rigger or providing load-lifting devices or handling sharp-edged or dangerous goods/hazardous materials, protective gloves must be worn.

Transport Over People

• Transporting objects over people is not strictly prohibited for form-fitted loads (crane hook + sling) but should be avoided. Working under a load hanging from the crane is strictly forbidden!

Damage Reporting

• Any issues with technical building systems (ventilation, heating, electrical installations, water, and wastewater) must be immediately reported to the building maintenance team and the lab supervisor.

Electrical Devices

• Before use, electrical devices must be visually inspected for external damage. Defective or damaged devices must not be used and must be reported to the lab supervisor. Inspection intervals according to BGV A3 must be observed. Repairs may only be carried out by qualified electrical personnel.

Access Rules

• Cleanrooms are accessible during regular working hours from Monday to Friday, between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM (according to the institute's house rules). Employees may also work outside these hours if requested in advance (informally via email) and approved by the lab supervisor.

General Access Guidelines