Synthetic Mineral Fibers

"Synthetic mineral fibers" are fibrous inorganic substances made primarily from rock, clay, slag or glass. These fibers are classified into three general groups: fiberglass (glasswool and glass filament), mineral wool (rockwool and slagwool), and refractory ceramic fibers (RCF). There are more than 225,000 workers in the U.S. exposed to synthetic mineral fibers in manufacturing and end-use applications. Synthetic mineral fibers are believed to cause respiratory cancers and other adverse respiratory effects.

• OSHA Endorses Major Agreement to Protect Workers Exposed to Fiberglass Insulation. Industry groups have developed a Health and Safety Partnership Program (HSPP) to help protect workers exposed to fiberglass insulation. The HSPP, three years in the making, establishes a voluntary PEL for fiberglass exposure, makes comprehensive worksite recommendations for the proper and safe handling of insulation materials, and increases education and training programs for workers.

Recognition

• Synthetic Mineral Fibers. OSHA Priority Planning Process (1996, February 5), 3 pages. This summary sheet includes general hazard information for synthetic mineral fibers and describes OSHA's action plan to reduce worker exposures.
• Refractory Ceramic Fibers. EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) (1993, July 1), 10 pages. Health effect information for RCFs.
• Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Fibrous Glass. NIOSH Publication No. 77-152 (1977, April), 201 pages, contained in 8 separate PDF files. Includes health effects, exposure, work practices, sampling, and control information for fibrous glass.
• Industrial Hygiene Surveys of Occupational Exposure to Mineral Wool. NIOSH Publication No. 80-135. This publication is not available online, but can be ordered by calling 1-800-35-NIOSH or by e-mail from the NIOSH Publications Office.
• Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen - Glasswool (Respirable Size). National Toxicology Program, 8th Report on Carcinogens (1998), 3 pages.
• Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen - Ceramic Fibers (Respirable Size). National Toxicology Program, 8th Report on Carcinogens (1998), 2 pages.
• IARC Monograph - Man-made Mineral Fibers. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (1988), 6 pages. Includes IARC monographs for glasswool, glass filaments, rockwool, slagwool, and ceramic fibers.

Evaluation

• OSHA Chemical Sampling Information:
  • Fibrous Glass Dust (1993, January 15), 1 page.
  • Mineral Wool Fiber (1993, December 28), 1 page.
  • Particulates not otherwise regulated (Total Dust) (1995, August 28), 1 page.
  • Particulates not otherwise regulated (Respirable Fraction) (1993, January 15), 1 page.
  • Refractory Ceramic Fibers (1996, March 26), 1 page.
• Asbestos and Other Fibers by PCM. NIOSH Method 7400 (1994, August 15), 15 pages, 91 KB PDF file. Includes sampling for fibrous glass and refractory ceramic fibers.
• Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated, Total. NIOSH Method 0500 (1994, August 15), 3 pages, 19 KB PDF file.

Control

• Synthetic Inorganic Fiber Program. NASA's Lewis Research (LeRC) Environmental Program Manual, Chapter 10 (1996, November 27), 5 pages. Establishes requirements and describes methods for controlling exposures to synthetic mineral fibers.
• Protect Your Family - Reduce Contamination at Home. NIOSH Publication No. 97-125 (1997, September 15), 8 pages. Also available as a 201 KB PDF file. Summarizes a NIOSH study of contamination of workers' homes by hazardous substances transported from the workplace, including fibrous glass. A summary of the Report to Congress is also available (1995, September), 9 pages.

Compliance

• OSHA Standards
  • 1910.1000, Air Contaminants (General Industry). Table Z-3 Mineral Dusts contains PELs for "Inert or Nuisance Dust" (respirable fraction and total dust); these are currently the only PELs applicable to synthetic mineral fibers for General Industry.
  • 1915.1000, Air Contaminants (Shipyard Employment). Table Z lists PELs for fibrous glass and mineral wool (total dust and respirable fraction).

• Other Standards
  • Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents; ACGIH; Cincinnati, OH; (513) 742-3355; e-mail: acgih_pubs@pol.com. Consensus exposure limits from organization of governmental industrial hygienists for the following Synthetic Vitreous Fibers:
    • Continuous filament glass fibers
    • Continuous filament glass fibers
    • Glass wool fibers
    • Rock wool fibers
    • Slag wool fibers
    • Special purpose glass fibers
    • Refractory ceramic fibers (See Notice of Intended Changes)

• Preambles to OSHA Standards
  • Air Contaminants (29 CFR 1910.1000) (1989, July 5).

• Review Commission and Administrative Law Judge Decisions
  The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) is an independent Federal agency created to decide contests of citations or penalties resulting from OSHA inspections of American work places. To locate decisions related to this topic, search for keywords at the OSHRC site.

• Standard Interpretations and Compliance Letters
  • Interpretation on the requirements of the hazard communication standard with regard to fiberglass products (1997, April 29), 2 pages.
  • Fiberglass and the HCS Standard (1991, November 19), 2 pages.
  • Requirement of Carcinogen warning label on textile glass filaments (1991, September 6), 3 pages.
  • Regarding warning labels under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (1991, June 28), 1 page.
  • Regarding labeling requirements of the OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (1991, May 6), 2 pages.

Revision Date: 07 March 2001