Pfizer Employees First to Use NCC Cleanroom
Pfizer employees were the first to train in Nash Community College’s new aseptic cleanroom. Located on the south end of campus in the NCC Continuing Education and Public Services Building, the 913 square foot room was funded through a Golden LEAF grant. “The room is equipped with a specialized high-efficiency particulate air filtration system which moves 100 feet of new air into the room every 50 seconds,” Melissa Cahoon, Nash Community College Director of Corporate Training said. Trainees are learning aseptic processing, aseptic facility engineering design, pharmaceutical water systems, personal hygiene, cleanroom contamination, basic microbiology, cleanroom behaviors, aseptic gowning and personnel monitoring, disinfection, equipment cleaning and sterilization, environmental monitoring and interventions.
Initial conversations about developing aseptic training in Rocky Mount began between Pfizer and Nash Community College several years ago. The pharmaceutical plant previously sent employees out of town as far as Maryland for the same type of customized industry training. Pfizer donated a component filling machine and supplies to the lab in support of bringing the training to Nash County. “The NCC aseptic lab contains three stations simulating a real-world sterile working environment including a gowning station, filling line and observation area where students can learn lab procedures for gowning, filling, sampling, sanitation and more,” Cahoon said.
“Nash Community College is one of only a few facilities in North Carolina where aseptic training is offered. This adds another dimension to the College’s strategic response to industry needs,” NCC President Dr. Bill Carver said. Nearly 25 percent of sterile injectable drugs administered in the United States are made at Pfizer in Rocky Mount; and with Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies located in North Carolina, the training will be a valuable asset to the region. “Training in the clean room prepares locals to achieve a living wage, and helps attract and retain professionals in our community,” Carver said.
NCC is considering other applications for the room, as well, such as instruction for gowning techniques used in food processing plants, training for filling machine maintenance employees and techniques for employees who clean the cleanroom.
