Image: Kaivac
Is your cleanroom environment suffering from hospitalism? If so, many of the tasks performed in your cleanroom environment and their outcomes could be in jeopardy.
The term hospitalism was coined back in 1830 by the Scottish doctor James Simpson. The term was used to describe a growing problem in many hospitals in northern Europe: people who acquired new diseases while in the hospital.
Today, we refer to such diseases as hospital-acquired diseases, nosocomial infections, or hospital-associated infections (HAI). Back in the 1830s, the prevailing theory as to the cause of HAI was poor ventilation and stagnant air. At that time, few in the medical profession believed or were even aware that germs may be on surfaces and that they could be transmitted to patients. So, when there were outbreaks of hospitalism, the usual course of action was to simply open the windows.
We know much more today about cross contamination. But cross contamination doesn’t only negatively impact the health of people. In a cleanroom environment or laboratory, contamination can impact studies and the results of those studies. One of the most common ways, historically, that cleanroom environments have been contaminated is when “dense dust” (dust particles with high water content) and metal-containing dust settle onto surfaces. Fortunately, much of this problem has been minimized with advanced air filtration systems attached to HVAC systems, such as HEPA filters, which capture and trap the bulk of these dust particles.
However, there are other ways that dense dust and metal-containing dust can find their way onto surfaces in a cleanroom or lab. If there are metal objects in the room, even things such as faucets and plumbing, they can be corroded by the fumes produced by acid vapors used in the room. The result is metal-containing dust once again finding its way onto surfaces. Also, the clothing technicians wear can transport particulates from one part of the laboratory to another. This is why some cleanroom environments include a “change room” between one area of the facility and another, to help prevent this dust transmission.
Effective cleaning
Effective and thorough cleaning is one of the key ways to help remove dust particles that have settled onto surfaces, helping to keep the cleanroom or laboratory contamination-free. While there are scores of surfaces that this may include, the ones we will discuss are the surface that is likely the largest, used flat surface in the room — the floor — as well as desks, counters, and table areas where all kinds of tasks are performed.
When it comes to floor care, cleanroom and lab administrators are advised to never have the floors swept or dust mopped. This loosens dust, making it airborne, which then settles back onto work surfaces. Instead, cleaning professionals should always use high-filtration vacuum cleaners, with the same HEPA filters mentioned earlier used in HVAC systems. A backpack system or a canister model is preferable. Both types of vacuum cleaner are available with high-filtration systems, and they allow the user the flexibility to clean hard-to-reach areas and conduct high and low vacuuming.
Administrators should also avoid having cleanroom floors mopped. Studies presented at the nonprofit Cleaning Industry Research Institute report that some conventional cleaning tasks such as mopping floors or using traditional cleaning cloths, which we will discuss later, actually spread contaminants from one area to another. This starts as soon as the mop and mop water become soiled and builds as the process continues.
A recommended alternative is the use of a system that applies cleaning solution directly to floors. This keeps the cleaning solution from becoming contaminated. As the machine is pushed over the floor, a pad provides the necessary agitation to remove soils and contaminants, which are then vacuumed up. No mops are used. These floor machines are often referred to as “auto vacs.”
Counters and desks
Removing dust and contaminants from desks, workstations, and counters can get complicated, but the following suggestions can help cleaning workers perform these cleaning tasks effectively. For instance:
- When cleaning a very dusty surface using a cleaning solution in a sprayer, in most cases, workers should spray the cleaning cloth and not the surface to be cleaned. This helps prevent dust or contaminants on the surface area from becoming airborne. Now, with the dust removed, the surface should be cleaned once again. But this time, spray the surface and then wipe with a clean and dry microfiber cleaning cloth. Recent studies have shown the cleaning results (percentage of actual pathogens removed) is improved when cleaning solution is applied to the surface and then cleaned with a dry microfiber.*
- Microfiber cleaning cloths should always be used. Microfiber tends to be more effective at cleaning and disinfecting than conventional terry cloth. However, the microfiber cloth must stay clean. Otherwise, it may start spreading contaminants just as a mop can. An option here is to use what are sometimes called “smart-towels” — microfiber cloths that can be folded into quadrants. This allows the user to continually use a fresh cleaning cloth as they move from one surface to the next.
- Administrators should also consider the use of color-coded cleaning cloths. Typically, these are used to ensure a cleaning cloth used in a restroom, for instance, is not used in a food service area. But crews working in a cleanroom environment or lab may want to take this a step further — for instance, using a specific color of cloth for cleaning specific lab areas or surfaces; for different cleanrooms or laboratories; for cleaning wet areas (sinks) and dry areas, and so on.
There are also ways to clean counters and desk areas without the use of traditional sprayers and cleaning cloths. Referred to as flat-surface cleaning systems, these systems combine a chemical injection system that applies cleaning solution to a microfiber wipe (this is not a cloth but a microfiber pad attached to a pad holder) and a window squeegee to clean flat surfaces. The key benefits of flat-surface cleaning systems are they do not spread contaminants from one surface to another and they tend to speed up the cleaning process.
The cleaning procedures and systems discussed here can help prevent hospitalism from becoming a problem in your cleanroom environment or lab. Administrators of these facilities must always stay vigilant to keep their rooms as clean and contaminant free as possible.
One of the best ways to do this is to follow developments in the professional cleaning industry. It is no longer the dormant industry it was 50 years ago. New technologies and cleaning methods are introduced regularly, many of which will benefit the cleanroom and laboratory environment.
*On surfaces where dust is not a problem, spray the surface first and then wipe with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
Paul South is the president and general manager of Valley Janitorial, a 30-year-old janitorial supply company based in Hamilton, Ohio. www.valleyjs.com
