Occupational Safety and Health Series, No. 64

Safety in the use of mineral and synthetic fibres

The present document discusses safety and health in the use of mineral and synthetic fibres at work, taking due account of the relevant international instruments. It is an ILO contribution to the International Programme on Chemical Safety (a collaborative programme of the United Nations Environment Programme, the ILO, and the World Health Organization).

The present document discusses safety and health in the use of mineral and synthetic fibres at work, taking due account of the relevant international instruments, in particular the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), and Recommendation (No. 164), the Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and Vibration) Convention, 1977 (No. 148), and Recommendation (No. 156), and the Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162), and Recommendation (No. 172), as well as the ILO code of practice, Safety in the use of asbestos, published in 1984.

The first three chapters deal with man-made mineral fibres, natural mineral fibrous materials and organic synthetic fibres, and with their health effects. The following chapters discuss preventive and control measures, and law and practice in selected countries.

The document aims at providing basic information to all concerned when implementing safety in the use of mineral and synthetic fibres other than asbestos. It covers a wide range of materials:
(i) man-made mineral fibres - insulation wools (rockwool, slagwool and glasswool); refractory (including ceramic) fibres; continuous filament glass fibres; and special purpose fibres;
(ii) natural mineral fibres other than asbestos - erionite, attapulgite, and wollastonite;
(iii) synthetic organic fibres - aramid fibres; carbon and graphite fibres, and polyolefin fibres.

Working document and Report of the Meeting of Experts on Safety in the Use of Mineral and Synthetic Fibres, Geneva, 17-25 April 1989.