Networking & Fibre Glass? Not Fibre Optics?
By zweeb82
@zweeb82 (5653)
Malaysia
May 18, 2008 7:32am CST
Yeah, that's right. It's networking & fibre glass, not fibre optics, hahaaha
Was doing a cabling project - laying ethernet wires yesterday. My lil' sis & I was on the job. The last one we had to let it go up the ceiling & let it come down at the other side. So here's the story: when we were moving the ceiling panels, little did we know it was made of fibre glass. After the job, we felt prickily pains on our hands. At 1st I thought it was chrome but then it looked so much like strings / fibre, not only bluish black colour ( chrome would normally be metallic silver & shiny ) but some of it was like trasnparent white - could only see it when we turn our hands from a certain angle under the light. I actually found out from an experienced friend that it could most possibly be fibre glass. At first I thought putting cream would help - well it was much help actually but later found out in a link that should wash hands under cold running water, not hot water cause that would open up the pores to push fibre further into skin. After that to wipe it off with cold wet wash cloth when hands are very cold. My sis says she found a link that says to use panty hose to wipe it off. I guess the netting on that could trap the fibre? I thought of using the clothes brush which we use to remove like tissue & stuff stuck on our clothes? Never tried that though, maybe next time? Or maybe we should wear gloves the next time as prevention, hahah!~
Was doing a cabling project - laying ethernet wires yesterday. My lil' sis & I was on the job. The last one we had to let it go up the ceiling & let it come down at the other side. So here's the story: when we were moving the ceiling panels, little did we know it was made of fibre glass. After the job, we felt prickily pains on our hands. At 1st I thought it was chrome but then it looked so much like strings / fibre, not only bluish black colour ( chrome would normally be metallic silver & shiny ) but some of it was like trasnparent white - could only see it when we turn our hands from a certain angle under the light. I actually found out from an experienced friend that it could most possibly be fibre glass. At first I thought putting cream would help - well it was much help actually but later found out in a link that should wash hands under cold running water, not hot water cause that would open up the pores to push fibre further into skin. After that to wipe it off with cold wet wash cloth when hands are very cold. My sis says she found a link that says to use panty hose to wipe it off. I guess the netting on that could trap the fibre? I thought of using the clothes brush which we use to remove like tissue & stuff stuck on our clothes? Never tried that though, maybe next time? Or maybe we should wear gloves the next time as prevention, hahah!~2 people like this
3 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
19 May 08
If you are going to work with fiber glass you need to wear protective masks, gloves, etc. If you breathe in the stuff you could easily die.
1 person likes this
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
19 May 08
Yes it can be very dangerous, you know how it stuck to your skin, in large amounts breathed in, I have heard it can block the lungs. I have no direct knowledge of it, so don't consider that expert advice. When we did our DW we wore the paper mask, and gloves.
1 person likes this
@zweeb82 (5653)
• Malaysia
19 May 08
Wo, I didn't know it was that serious & dangerous~! We didn't know it was fibre glass in the beginning actually. I think the fibre glass was etched into the ceiling panels which we removed. Maybe the sweaty hands produced some acid chemical reaction or something. Thanks for the precaution, appreciate it very much
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
18 May 08
OMGoodness, do I remember fiberglass. They used to put it in curtains too, and you would wash the curtains and you could see all that little shiny stuff, put them up and itch the rest of the night. My hubby and I remodeled a double wide we bought and fiber glass was the insulation in the walls and floors, didn't think I would ever get it all off me. You poor things I feel your pain. Blessing to you both.
1 person likes this
Anyway the stuff are 95% gone, only occasionally I see a few tiny little strands of bluish black but the pricking is no more
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
19 May 08
I don't think they use it anymore. This was back in the 70's, and the DW was in the 80's. I haven't seen any of those curtains in years, thank goodness. I am sure some more here remember them though, they had a rubber looking backing and you had to use the big 3 point curtain hooks to put them up. Oh it was so much fun! (not).
1 person likes this
Since I was born in the 80s I missed all the "fun" then, hahaha
@ferdzNK (3211)
• Philippines
18 May 08
I never knew fiber glass could have that sensation in hands. I pass by an auto accessory shop that do customize siding, fender and bumper made of fiber glass and I never notice workers wearing globs. Its a good thing you pointed this out. This is one of the problem here in our country, only ISO compliant company requires one to wear full protective gears otherwise we don't pay much attention for safety measure.
1 person likes this
