PAPR Pre-Filter After 6 Hours of Fiberglass Insulation Project
Filters this discolored and filled with tiny fibers after just 6 hours of insulating a house makes us consider what gets into a construction worker's lungs over the course of a career without proper respiratory protection.
Like these pre-filter photos showing 8 hours of welding fume, we found another photo that stopped us in our tracks to take stock. Here's one that was an eye opener for one of our account managers who recently spent a Saturday insulating a home in Michigan using unfaced fiber insulation batts. He was wearing his T-Link hood with PX5 PAPR throughout the project and was thankful to avoid the itchy neck and eyes one would normally endure during this type of home remodeling project.
Most new single family homes use fiberglass batt insulation. However, the tiny fibers of glass from insulation wool can irritate your skin and eyes with irritant contact dermatitis (inflammation of the skin). Inhaling fiberglass particles can cause nose bleeds, severe coughing, and increase the difficulty of breathing or cause lung damage. Due to its fibrous similarity to asbestos, there is concern about the dangers of fiberglass and it is sometimes referred to as man-made asbestos.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) describes "fibrous glass is a synthetic fiber made from tiny particles of glass. It can harm the eyes, skin, and the lungs. Workers may be harmed from exposure to fibrous glass. The level of exposure depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done." They recommend that employers use Hierarchy of Controls to prevent injuries and for those working with fibrous glass to read chemical labels and the accompanying Safety Data Sheets for hazard information.
