An apparatus and method are described herein which help prevent particles and other contaminants that are generated when an edge of a glass sheet is processed from contaminating or damaging the glass sheet. The apparatus includes an encapsulation device and a processing device. The encapsulation device is capable of supporting two surfaces of a glass sheet. And, the processing device is capable of processing (e.g., cutting, scribing, grinding or polishing) the edge that is adjacent to the supported two surfaces of the glass sheet which are located on a first side of the encapsulation device. The encapsulation device is also capable of substantially preventing particles and other contaminants that are generated when the processing device processes the edge of the glass sheet from reaching the two surfaces of the glass sheet which are located on a second side of the encapsulation device.