There is provided a method for initiating a sleeve evacuation process in a controlled atmosphere workstation that comprises a chamber, at least one porthole that may be opened for enabling a user to access the chamber, and a sleeve secured to the least one porthole. The method involves placing the hand of a user within the sleeve with the sleeve engaging the forearm of the user, and initiating the sleeve evacuation process in response to the hand and forearm within the sleeve. In an embodiment of the invention the user forms a fist and moves the fist towards the porthole. This creates a pressure increase that can be detected to initiate the evacuation process. Alternatively the user may wear on his or her hand or forearm an element such as a magnetic element or an RFID chip that can be detected at the porthole to begin the evacuation process.