Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) for Fiberglass Work

[nastyquedawg]

Ok I am new to working with fiberglass and have a few questions about the proper PPE. I am restoring a 1974 21ft center consol beachcraft and my goal is to have it all done by October. From new stringers to motor installation.

What type of respirator should I use or is the regular fiberglass insulation mask ok?

Are tyvek suits necesary or long sleeve shirts do the trick?

Where can I get barrier cream or is there an alternative that you can use that will not allow those fibers to get in your skin.

Is there any way to cut down on the dust when grinding fiberglass?

I am in process of beveling the exterior hull so I can glass in my transom. The 36 grit sand paper was not doing the job fast enough so I pulled out a metal grinding wheel and man did it get dusty.

Is there a product that prevents your safety glasses from fogging?

Looking for some guidance from some experienced glassers.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) for Fiberglass Work

Dawg, there's a sticky at the beginning of the forum that will give you a start on some of the questions but I can certainly understand the desire to ask more questions. You may have allready noticed that your post generated a list of related threads. And like some of us, may have smacked your forehead when you see how many times this has been discussed - but that doesn't mean that your questions aren't important.

Don't skimp on a respirator. They're typically 30 to 40 dollars and you can use different cartridges. I use a particulate cartridge (magenta stripe) for grinding and cleaning and switch to carbon adsorber cartridges (usually black stripe) for vapors (resin work). And don't forget to clean the respirator at the end of the day. You may have seen people in the movies with their respirator hanging around their neck - that's a really stupid idea as you're getting glass and other contaminates in the breathing surfaces. That may sound like common sense but may not be if it's the first time you've heard it.

There are volumes written on respiratory protection and engineering controls. Even OSHA offers some suggestions. So yes, there are many ways to keep the bad stuff off of and out of you

Tyvex suits are available at different places. I was surprised to find that NAPA has them at a reasonable price.

Baby powder is a good way to fill in your pores and minimize glass particles. Having someone else do the job while you watch the video is an even better way

There's plenty of info here, just keep reading and it'll eventually jump out.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) for Fiberglass Work

These are what I have been using. Cheap, disposable, very breathable, and they keep the fiberglass dust off your skin. I've even worn them without a shirt on hot days and still no itch. Usually get 5 or 6 days use out of one before the seams start tearing, usually the zipper rips free.

http://www.galeton.com/item_group.asp?GroupID=129&CategoryID=96

At under $2 a piece, they are cheap protection. I'm 5'8" 185lbs, and the Large is a snug fit. So order a size larger than you normally take.

They also have good prices on respirators. This one actually conforms to my face well and does not leak around the edges. Very soft rubber.

http://www.galeton.com/item_group.asp?GroupID=142&CategoryID=25

 

[danond]

Re: Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) for Fiberglass Work

Good Gawd! Just get started!!

Use the gear that makes sense. If you don't have overly sensitive skin, wear long sleeves, a good mask and goggles. Fiberglass work isn't quit like cleaning up Chernobyl.

...and no, there's no good way to knock down the dust. Be prepared to make a huge mess. Vacuum it up every so often.