Asbestosis/fiberglassosis?

[Nicholas123]

I'm getting a bit worried about all the minute fiberglass dust like fibers I may be inhaling while removing the glue from my old headlining.
Anybody know if it can cause a similar condition to asbestosis?

 

[Bilgediver]

I'm getting a bit worried about all the minute fiberglass dust like fibers I may be inhaling while removing the glue from my old headlining.
Anybody know if it can cause a similar condition to asbestosis?

I hope you wear a mask as the Westerly Owners Group describe it as hazardous .

http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/westerlywiki/index.php?title=Headlining

 

[Nicholas123]

I hope you wear a mask as the Westerly Owners Group describe it as hazardous .

http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/westerlywiki/index.php?title=Headlining

I have been using some cheap masks that cover your mouth & nose but it's still possible some air is coming in round the sides.When you see the fibers floating around in the air it's hard to imagine that you breath in none at all.Occasionally I do take the mask off temporarily when my glasses get steamed up etc.

 

[MYStargazer]

I was worried by this: I'm grinding away most of my boat's interior GRP surfaces prior to flowcoating.

But, although it seems it's an irritant like most dusts it's not poisonous or carcinogenic:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/fiberglass.htm ...etc...

Definitely worth investing in a decent mask for the sake of sixteen quid - these are brilliant and last ages: http://www.amazon.co.uk/3M-4251-Mai...s=3M+4251+Maintenance+Free+Reusable+Half+Mask

 

[RAI]

A vacuum cleaner can help reduce the dust reaching you.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

One can develop a dermatitis reaction to GRP and I can imagine the lungs becoming irritated and the increased probability of infection over prolonged periods.

 

[prv]

I have been using some cheap masks that cover your mouth & nose but it's still possible some air is coming in round the sides.

Do you mean something like this:

?

Almost entirely useless.



I use something similar to this:

It's not certified against vapours or substances that are actively toxic, but it keeps out practically all dust. The filters are replaceable, though I find that some gentle hoovering from the outside pulls out a lot of the dust and renders them useable again.

Pete

 

[smeaks]

Do you mean something like this:

?

Almost entirely useless.



I use something similar to this:

It's not certified against vapours or substances that are actively toxic, but it keeps out practically all dust. The filters are replaceable, though I find that some gentle hoovering from the outside pulls out a lot of the dust and renders them useable again.

Pete

For either to be effective the wearer needs to be face tested to ensure the mask fits correctly. Everyone ids different shapes and so the fit is essential for efficient use. Also facial hair is not going to effect a good seal even though you may filter soup through a beard!

 

[hartcjhart]

Do you mean something like this:

?

Almost entirely useless.



I use something similar to this:

It's not certified against vapours or substances that are actively toxic, but it keeps out practically all dust. The filters are replaceable, though I find that some gentle hoovering from the outside pulls out a lot of the dust and renders them useable again.

Pete

the second mask is ample,as to wether the fibres are a true hazard the jury is out,AT THE MOMENT,remember it took near 0n 50 years for the real risk of asbestos to come to light

 

[Greenheart]

A vacuum cleaner can help reduce the dust reaching you.

That was my first thought. If the fibres float around uncaptured, they'll end up on the floor...and every new step will stir them up again. If there's a vacuum-cleaner pipe close to where the grinding action occurs, lots of the fibres won't ever get loose.

I'd acquire the best mask I could afford, just the same.

 

[prv]

For either to be effective the wearer needs to be face tested to ensure the mask fits correctly.

A good point. I did informally test this in the same way you'd test a diving mask - I blanked off the filter holes and "sucked" it onto my face (just one suck, not continuous inhaling) then waited to see how long it would stay stuck in place. It seemed a reasonable time.

Pete

 

[nigelmercier]

I recently bought a 3M 4251 Maintenance Free Reusable Half Mask http://amzn.to/1gerdoJ

Pity I didn't have it 30 years ago when I broke up an asbestos garage roof and put it in the back of a Transit van

[Later] just seen the above. Snap!

 

[Greenheart]

Is my garage roof likely to be asbestos, here in the UK? It certainly looks like it, but when I've seen similar corrugated stuff in numerous French garages and sheds, I've been assured it was some sort of moulded cement. I tend to doubt that. But I thought over here at least, it was legally required to be shifted decades ago. Maybe only in public premises.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Is my garage roof likely to be asbestos, here in the UK? It certainly looks like it, but when I've seen similar corrugated stuff in numerous French garages and sheds, I've been assured it was some sort of moulded cement. I tend to doubt that. But I thought over here at least, it was legally required to be shifted decades ago. Maybe only in public premises.

Well, when I bought a house built in the mid-60s it had an asbestos water tank! The surveyor said it was safe, unless it was broken up. I chose to have it replaced...

My understanding is that things like asbestos roofing are perfectly safe UNLESS they are broken up; they don't need to be removed but when they do need replacement, removing them is a specialist job. Asbestos insulation etc. is another matter.

 

[30boat]

The roof on my shed is made of corrugated sheets of a cement asbestos material locally called Lusalite.The factory was closed years ago following the outlawing of asbestos.I'm leaving it as is in the understanding that if not abraded or broken it's safe.

 

[Ammonite]

I was worried by this: I'm grinding away most of my boat's interior GRP surfaces prior to flowcoating.

But, although it seems it's an irritant like most dusts it's not poisonous or carcinogenic:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/fiberglass.htm ...etc...

Definitely worth investing in a decent mask for the sake of sixteen quid - these are brilliant and last ages: http://www.amazon.co.uk/3M-4251-Mai...s=3M+4251+Maintenance+Free+Reusable+Half+Mask

I'll third the choice of a 3m 4251. Spent an entire day in my lazerette painting it with the lid only open a few inches due to the rain. Not one whiff of paint and its the sort of paint that would give me a headache in a less confined space

 

[hartcjhart]

Well, when I bought a house built in the mid-60s it had an asbestos water tank! The surveyor said it was safe, unless it was broken up. I chose to have it replaced...

My understanding is that things like asbestos roofing are perfectly safe UNLESS they are broken up; they don't need to be removed but when they do need replacement, removing them is a specialist job. Asbestos insulation etc. is another matter.

not really true,you can remove and dispose of asbestos roofing sheets yourself,BUT, it is sensible to take precautions,when taking to the council tip they (the sheets) must be wrapped in plastic

 

[itchenseadog]

I'm getting a bit worried about all the minute fiberglass dust like fibers I may be inhaling while removing the glue from my old headlining.
Anybody know if it can cause a similar condition to asbestosis?

Yes, tbe minute glass particles can cause damage to your lungs. We always used to use a full air fed head mask drawing air either from an outside source of from a filter pack with fan on our back. I still suffer lung problems from iroko dust from when we built wooden boats in the 60's to 80's.

 

[Nicholas123]

Well gentlemen thanks for your input.I only have the foot wells in the main cabin to do using an electric drill & wire brush & I hope to do this later this week when there is a good wind blowing the particles out the main hatch & my admittedly not very sophisticated mask saves me from inhaling to many of them.
(I find dampening down the surface helps a lot & I will Finnish off just using a wire brush by hand)
By the way,I thought the vacuum cleaner was a good idea sadly I don't have shore power.

 

[GrahamM376]

The roof on my shed is made of corrugated sheets of a cement asbestos material locally called Lusalite.The factory was closed years ago following the outlawing of asbestos.I'm leaving it as is in the understanding that if not abraded or broken it's safe.

Lusalite is a Portuguese company and they're being investigated there because of exposed waste at closed factories. Used to visit their social club at the Mozambique factory.

As kids we used to play with asbestos and I've lost count of the thousands of brake drums I've blown out with an airline when in the motor trade in the 60s, before the hazards were known.

A well fitting mask should always be used in confined spaces when working with fibreglass.