Wear a mask over the nose and mouth to prevent breathing in the fibers. Wear goggles or safety glasses with side shields to protect the eyes. Open a window or a door to increase ventilation and reduce dust levels. Use a shop vacuum after wetting the dust and fibers.
Yes, you should use a respirator when installing or removing fiberglass insulation. The small fibers can float in the air. If you inhale them, they can damage your lungs and even give you a type of pneumonia.
Yes. Fiberglass fibers are ( surprise!) glass. Most glass is primarily silica. Even if it's not, the glass fibers do not dissolve and can, at the very least, cut up your lung tissue. Wear a mask designed for working with fiberglass, especially fiberglass insulation.
Full respirator, suit and latex gloves when spraying fiberglass. N95, suit and leather gloves (or any thick glove) when handling or machining.
Direct contact with fiberglass or breathing airborne dust containing fiberglass may irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. The symptoms of irritation are often nonspecific, temporary, and may include itching, coughing, or wheezing.
When fiberglass fragments are inhaled and deposited in the small air sacs of the lung, the alveoli do not close up and trap the particles. The particles are expelled from the alveoli and there is a rapid clearance of fiberglass dust particles from the lungs.
The prognosis of fibreglass dermatitis is variable, depending on the presentation and severity. It may self-resolve within a few days if there are only a few particles present in the skin.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
This includes protective goggles, long pants, socks, boots, long-sleeved shirt and a cap. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) recommends loose, non-constricting clothing to minimize the risk for direct skin contact with fiberglass particles.
Blown Fiberglass in Attics
Installers blowing insulation wear a NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece dust respirator (N95 or greater). No workers, unless they wear a NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece dust respirator (N95 or greater), should be permitted in the attic during or immediately after the application.
Exposure to fiberglass can cause irritation in the eyes, nose, or throat. It may also cause itching and irritation when the fibers get stuck in the skin.
N95 Fiberglass-Sanding Respirator. The disposable 8511 N95 particulate respirator features the proprietary 3M™ Cool Flow™ Valve and helps provide comfortable, reliable worker respiratory protection. Our Fiberglass-Sanding Respirator helps protect against dust, mist, sanding, and fiberglass insulation.
Like asbestos, fiberglass poses some health risks, but these are less serious than those associated with asbestos. Asbestos is widely recognized as a carcinogen and a leading cause of mesothelioma. Whether or not fiberglass is carcinogenic has been debated for decades.
To get fiberglass out of your skin, wash the area as soon as possible to help remove the smallest pieces. You can gently wipe any larger, visible pieces of fiberglass off your skin with a damp cloth. If there is still irritation, see a healthcare provider.
The best way to protect yourself when handling fiberglass is to wear personal protective equipment, also called PPE. This includes a dust mask or respirator to protect your lungs, safety glasses or goggles to protect your eyes, work gloves to protect your hand and clothing that covers every part of your body.
Removing Fiberglass from Your Skin
If you've come into contact with fiberglass shards or you have a rash and itchiness after you were exposed to fiberglass, don't rub or scratch the area. Immediately wash the exposed area with warm water and mild soap and wipe with a washcloth to remove the glass fibers from your skin.
Dust mask or respirator. Loose-fitted clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt and trousers. Cap or hat to keep fiberglass particles out of your hair.
Fiberglass inhalation seems to produce a minimal tissue response in the lungs, and the reaction is one of macrophagic mobilization and is characteristic of the pulmonary response to those nonfibrogenic dusts classified as nuisance dusts.
Full Face Masks
A full face mask will come with a full range of gas and particulate filters. The use of full-face masks ensures that the wearer's face is completely protected from the damaging effects of the fiberglass particles.
A: An N95 mask is a disposable filtering facepiece respirator with two straps. When worn properly (with the mask making a tight seal with the user's face), it can protect against hazardous airborne particles. N95 masks do not protect against gases, vapors and cannot be used for asbestos, and they do not provide oxygen.
In addition to head coverings, protective goggles, a respirator, and gloves, a secondary disposable garment to protect your first layer of clothing is essential.
As the others said, an N95 mask is recommended. Lowe's and Home Depot sell N95 masks. Those little pieces of fiberglass that make their way into your lungs sit there and do nothing, eventually joining in mucus and making their way out.
Respiratory Risks
Inhaling fibreglass poses a significant risk to your breathing passageways. As the minuscule material goes through your body, it creates tiny cuts around your body's organs and tissues.
Room temperature is the ideal scenario for curing. Each resin type will differ so we would always recommend referring to the MSDS and TDS available on each product listing before use. Although some resins may be hard to the touch after 24 hours, some may not be fully cured for up to 3 days.
This substance can penetrate the skin, leading to discomfort and rashes. People can safely remove some fiberglass particles by washing the affected area under running water and gently pulling fibers away from the skin using tape. Emollients and corticosteroid creams can help ease symptoms.