Summer fun

08/01/2004

Frequently, when I tell people that I work for a magazine called CleanRooms, the reaction is a curious stare. Usually, I then proceed to explain the basics of contamination control technology and why it's so important to so many industries. This makes me feel better, though the stare is now often just accompanied by an even more curious nodding of the head.

The truth is that the scope and breadth of the contamination control profession is often not fully appreciated even by those directly involved with it. In fact, many may not even realize that they themselves fall under the category of "contamination control professional." So, to help rectify this situation (and with apologies to Jeff Foxworthy), I have compiled the following identification aid.

For example, if you have a sticky-mat inside the front door of your home, you just might be a contamination control professional. Or, if next to the recipe books in your kitchen, there's a self-compiled volume labeled "cGKPs – Current Good Kitchen Practices," you also just might be ……….

If you nitrogen-purge your microwave after every use, ………… If your home shower has an extra knob labeled air/water,……….. If, when eating out at restaurants, you request that each food item be served on separate (covered) dishes,……… If when you're having trouble sleeping, you count particles,……….

If you have to open your car door at toll booths because you've sealed your windows with "#732," ……… If you've fashioned and installed a 3-stage pre-filter to your gas tank,………. If you mix your own washer fluid using DI water,………. If that same washer fluid not only cleans your windshield but disinfects it as well,…………..

If your list of favorite movies starts with "The Andromeda Strain" and ends with "Outbreak,"…………… If you've developed an alternative solution to "the trouble with tribbles," you're definitely a hopeless Trekkie, but you just might also……………

If on Valentine's day, you gave your wife or girlfriend a Tyvek negligee,………. Alternatively, if you were first attracted to your husband or boyfriend because "there's just something about a man in a bunny suit,"……………

And, finally, if the license plate of your car reads "CLASS 1," you…………

Anyway, I hope this list is of some help, and I encourage anyone who has their own helpful suggestions to send them to us for posting on our website ([email protected]). Just remember, however, if you do this, you just might be a contamination control professional.

John Haystead
Editor in Chief