Rank: Super forum user 
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OK
If anyone out there has staff working in a clean room type environment where it is quite noisy and low humidity (15%); could they suggest how often employees need a break. A manager here is suggesting that the only need a break at lunch time.
It has been suggested that they need more breaks, especially opportunities to get some fluid noting the low humidity. Is there any sort of guidance about this about?
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Rank: Super forum user
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A Kurdziel
My good lady works for a specialist pharmecutical company where they prepare vaccines. All work is carried out in a clean suite (sterile, humidity controlled and positive pressure). They all have to wear surgical scrubs along with disposable coverall, hoods, glasses two pairs of gloves and face mask. The maximum time they are permited in the area is 2 hours as it is considered the PPE they wear will only last around this length of time and they start shedding particles.
Plus this about the length of time they can go between the usual toilet break.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I agree with ME above. This is the stance adopted by one of the mega-pharma companies I used to do work with (possibly the same one as Mrs ME).
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Rank: Forum user
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When I first read this post I didn't know what a clean room was so Googled it (other internet search engines are available) and the things that came up were medical research that showed clean room workers were at a higher risk of UTI's, miscarriage, fatigue and weight gain depending on shift lengths.
With a low humidity a lack of fluids and infrequent toilet breaks could certainly contribute towards some of these conditions.
If there aren't any standards available then I suppose risk assessment could be one way of identifying the issues with working in the clean room atmosphere and the possible consequences.
Have a good weekend, Lisa
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Rank: Forum user 
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AK
Where I worked this was never an issue i.e. sub changing room had water facilities and a place to sit down etc. So never had to look it up or ask; people had reasonable breaks.
That was a class 1000 room maintained at 15-17 Centigrade and the guys sweated profusely due to the clothing.
Considering that you have up to 4 layers of clothing on you and are used to an on average 80% humidty climate in northern Britain it does seem a bit draconian although the masks do increase the felt humidity.
I did have a felt temperaturte guide that related to clothing layers but do not have it to hand but I do remember that personnel climate was estimated to be about 36 Centigrade when I calculated up the layers worn by my workers if donning CR gear over normal clothes.
Also had segregated changing so workers could work in vest and pants under the clean room suits.
This was a semi conductor fab so as others have suggested pharma may operate differently. Had a search on semi they have no specific standards
Personal factors in thermal comfort assessment: clothing properties and metabolic heat production is a paper by Ken Parsons at Loughborough Uni. He was one of my lecturers when I was there, not sure if he still is. I am sure he would be happy to talk to anyone.
Another route may be to contact the HSL at Buxton they are always very helpful in matters where there is not a direct piece of guidance because they usually have someone who has researched it at one time or another.
Hope that is of use
Jeff
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Rank: Super forum user
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All
Thanks for the info very useful.
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