PARTICULATE CONTAMINANTS: SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION

Recent studies suggest that with the use of improved methods, training, and design, the percentage of contaminants from personnel can be driven down to the 5 - 10% range.

Unfortunately, even this good news has had some unintended consequences, as some workers become complacent about their cleanroom entry protocols. As a result, personnel wearing particle-shedding products (which we’ll discuss later in the course), may be driving the contamination rates from personnel back up to 35% range, and even beyond.

Graph showing decline in personnel contamination from 15% to 10%, then climbing sharply to 35%
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Florida Space Research Institute ©2002