See full version: PPE - Personal Protective Equipment
A good quality half face respirator can be bought for $35 and is worth 5 times that much! Full face models are great for sanding when the dust just "hangs around", but can get hot. These are more expensive (around $125). I use both types.
The first concern is flying debris and dust. Your eyes are extremely fragile when it comes to shards of flying fiberglass! You MUST wear PPE - safety glasses or a face shield anytime that you are using a power tool. Period.
The third concern is hearing protection. When using power tools, it is simply too easy to use earplugs or muffs. I prefer the foam earplugs. These things are dirt cheap, comfortable, and can be found anywhere. Again - NO EXCUSES!
The second concern is airborne dust and fumes. Get a high quality respirator to protect yourself. I don't mean one of those white dust masks - get one with replaceable cartrages. Use "P100" cartridges that protect against dust, organic vapors, and solvent fumes. These models have a good seal to your face and truly protect your respiratory system.
PPE - Personal Protective Equipment is by far the most important tool that you will have for your fiberglass boat repair. [links]
Working with fiberglass has several classes of hazards that must be dealt with to ensure your health.
Fiberglass insulation, also sometimes known as glass wool, is made of tiny fibers of spun glass. As with any type of glass, the threads that make up fiberglass can break, leaving sharp edges. Contact with fiberglass fibers can cause miniscule cuts as well torturous itching. The best way to avoids cuts and itches is to wear proper protective gear when working with such insulation.
Wear a hat or hood when working with fiberglass to keep the itchy little fibers from getting into your hair. This is especially important if you are insulating very tall walls or ceilings. Any kind of hat will do as long as it sits firmly on your head and does not impair your vision in any way.
Goggles and a dust mask are the most crucial safety equipment you can wear because tiny glass fibers can irritate your eyes and lungs. Choose large safety goggles that fit securely all around your eyes, including the sides. You do not need a heavy-duty filtration mask when working with fiberglass. A simple dust mask available at any hardware or home improvement store should provide an adequate barrier to keep fiberglass particles from being inhaled.
Wearing gloves reduces skin contact with the fiberglass and may prevent irritation. Workers regularly exposed to this type of dust should wear masks with respirators, which contain filters that prevent dust and other particles from entering the mouth and respiratory system.
Any clothing worn while working with fiberglass should be laundered separately from other clothing items. You should also rinse the washing machine before washing other types of clothing.
Swallowing the fibers increases the risk for stomach irritation. Smaller fibers may enter the lower part of the lungs, increasing the risks associated with exposure.
Selecting the right clothes can help minimize contact with the fibers, reducing the risk for irritation and injury. Workers should wear pants and long-sleeve shirts when working with this material. The fabric will prevent fiberglass dust from irritating the skin and reduce the risk of fibers becoming embedded in the skin. Keep your employer's dress code in mind when selecting the clothing you will wear when handling fiberglass. [links]
For working with the liquid epoxy, and cutting it after hardening, I recommend the 3M 60921 organic vapor cartridges. It has a layer of activated charcoal to absorb the vapors generated and a P100 (HEPA) filter to catch the particles. I would use this same combination when cutting the fiberglass and plastic.
I am working around many materials that I would like protection from. I am cutting hardened epoxy, fiberglass, wood, and plastic. I also do welding from time to time. I am also exposed to epoxies in the liquid state. Which mask and replaceable filters should I be using to protect me from these exposures? How long do the filters last? What size mask should I buy?
For cartridges, they absorb vapors like a sponge. When new, you should not smell or taste the solvent. This means that once they have absorbed all they can, you get breakthrough, meaning you will smell or taste the solvent. Then it is time to change. It should also be noted that when the concentration of vapors exceeds the capacity of the cartridge to take in vapors, the cartridge can be overwhelmed (temporarily) and you again get breakthrough.
Unfortunately there is no set time for filter or cartridge life. It depends very much on the concentration of the particles being breathed. Filters should be easy to breathe through when new. As they get used, particles accumulate on the filter, and the breathing resistance increases. It gets to a point where it is hard to breathe through, and then it is time to change. The happy side of this is that the filters are getting more efficient as they get loaded up with dust, but there is a practical limit to this. [links]