Why is cleanroom training important?

(Image source: Piepenbrock Unternehmensgruppe GmbH + Co. KG)

(Image source: Piepenbrock Unternehmensgruppe GmbH + Co. KG)

(Image source: Piepenbrock Unternehmensgruppe GmbH + Co. KG)

The cleanroom is one of the most sensitive areas within the company. Therefore, cleaning requires specialized knowledge and practical application skills. This is precisely what Piepenbrock trains its employees in at its own cleanroom training center in Osnabrück. Since November 2024, the building service provider has also been training specialists from aseptic areas – using a combination of theory, practice, and virtual reality.

Whether in pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical technology, or the semiconductor industry: cleanrooms are found where the highest standards of product safety are required. It’s about particles and germs – not only in the air. Laws, standards, and guidelines regulate the requirements for work in sensitive production environments. “To be allowed to work in a cleanroom, employees must undergo training followed by a success check and provide proof of it. In sterile areas, a so-called B-qualification is necessary,” explains Norbert Gürke, Head of Technical Management for Cleanroom Cleaning at Piepenbrock. However, cleanroom training is much more than just a formal obligation, Gürke adds. “The training makes a significant contribution to quality assurance. It conveys the key requirements for behavior and cleaning techniques. It fosters understanding of cleanroom regulations and processes and helps minimize contamination and error sources. This strengthens both employee safety and compliance.”

What does cleanroom training include?

In cleanroom training, cleanroom staff learn everything they need to know for working in sensitive environments. The regular training ensures that personnel working in a cleanroom are familiar with the specific material, behavior, and clothing rules, as well as the associated risks. Besides gaining knowledge, they also acquire confidence in their tasks. “Participants recognize the connection between their own behavior and its impact on quality and safety in the cleanroom. It’s about understanding how particles, microorganisms, and other contaminants affect product quality and how to effectively prevent them,” Gürke explains. This is crucial. “Proper handling of materials and equipment can minimize germs and particles and prevent cross-contamination. Failure to do so can have serious negative impacts – health-wise, technically, and economically.”

Training employees for work in the cleanroom

In Piepenbrock’s cleanroom cleaning, personnel training is the most important pillar. The specialized department has developed an extensive training program for this purpose. “We train our site managers to become cleanroom responsible persons. Cleaning staff undergo a three-part initial training. And we offer basic training for sales staff and branch managers,” Gürke describes. Piepenbrock conducts these training sessions either at its own cleanroom training center or directly at customer sites. Practical and based on clear guidelines: “We document all training sessions for cleaning staff and cleanroom responsible persons in compliance with audit standards. At least once a year, a refresher is mandatory. Our cleaning staff can conveniently complete the refresher courses via e-learning,” Gürke says. For optimal training results, the service provider is exploring innovative methods. Since 2025, Piepenbrock has been training its cleanroom staff with the support of virtual reality (VR).

Customized cleanroom training for specialists

But Piepenbrock’s training offerings go beyond its own cleanroom staff. “Upon request, we train specialists with a customized concept tailored to their daily work. We enable training sessions with and without VR, even on-site at the customer’s location,” Gürke explains. The building service provider also uses the VR simulator from Innerspace in its GMP cleanroom training. “The two-day training is offered quarterly at our cleanroom training center in Osnabrück. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical exercises using VR,” Gürke states. The program is aimed at professionals who regularly work in aseptic cleanroom environments. This includes specialists from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries involved in production, filling, quality assurance, and technical fields, as well as pharmacy staff. Since the training is listed with the Pharmacy Chamber of Lower Saxony, participants earn 16 continuing education points. Gürke highlights the benefits: “Training participants immerse themselves in a three-dimensional, realistic work environment with the simulator. Through the VR headset, they see contaminants invisible to the naked eye. The professionals can reinforce their knowledge from the training and practically apply it in our cleanroom training center.”

Interested parties can find more information about Piepenbrock’s training offerings at https://www.piepenbrock.de/gmp-reinraumschulung/.