We will be using a DE filter in our brewery, and I am trying to get safety things together. I have read that you should use a mask when working with diatomaceous earth. Is there a certain type of mask, and do I need anything else like safety glasses or goggles?
All I can suggest is find out if your product has a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and follow the directions given on the sheet. I checked a couple on line and they all say avoid inhalation but give no specifics so I would suggest a regular dust mask would be sufficient. But, find out what your brand is, check for an MSDS and see what is recommended.
Thanks. I usually see that a “dust mask” is needed, but I wasn’t sure what grade. I’ll see what the safety sheet says (I hope they have those in Italy 
The MSDS I read for DE says that long term heavy exposure to DE may cause irritation of the mucous membranes (read: it will cause diatomaceous boogers). It rates three zeros on the NFPA safety diamond. I’ve been using DE as swimming pool filter media for decades. A plain ole paper particle mask works fine.
Yeah, I think Dust Mask means the regular paper fiber mask you’d use for sanding drywall etc. Nothing fancy required, just don’t breath in a lot of it for a long time. Doesn’t look like any long term danger and acute is pretty mild, more of an irritation so a paper filter should be more than adequate (and easy to get).
DE, or perlite? I don’t think anyone in the States uses DE any more, but things might be different over there.
It’s still DE over here.