Occupational exposure to glass wool fibers: An update

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene 2021-04, Vol.18 (4-5), p.212-221
• Main Authors: Marchant, Gary, Connelly, Robert, Crane, Angus, Fayerweather, William, Puhala, Edward, Sandin, Kelly
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Exposure database; Exposure limits; fiber glass; Fibers; Glass wool; Insulation; Manufacturing; Manufacturing industry; Occupational exposure; Occupational health; synthetic vitreous fibers
• ISSN: 1545-9624; 1545-9632
• DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2021.1901906

In the decade since the last published comprehensive report of occupational exposures in the glass wool insulation industry, many process and regulatory changes have occurred in the glass wool manufacturing sector. This paper assesses whether any significant changes in worker exposures to glass wool fibers have resulted from these process and regulatory changes. The analysis compares worker exposures to glass wool overall and across different product and job categories in the manufacturing sector prior to and after 2007, the data cutoff period for the last comprehensive update of occupational exposures in this industry. The exposure data were downloaded from the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association's synthetic vitreous fiber (SVF) exposure database, which has been continually updated with all new available SVF exposure data for the past two decades. This analysis finds no major changes in worker exposures in the glass wool manufacturing industry over the past decade, with exposures remaining well below the 1 f/cc voluntary permissible exposure limit.