Why are Volcanologists' Asbestos Suits Problematic?

Question

I don't know if these are still used, but the Kraffts used to use them. I have to know the answer for my science class--and NO, I am not cheating! *I* answered all of the other 20 questions by myself, and now I need to use my resources!
I think that the answer is because the asbestos suits are so protective, the volcanologists can't sense approaching lava or pyroclastic flow. Is this correct? If not, what's the real reason?
Thanks to everyone who answers! You guys are lifesavers, 'cuz I'm a doomed overachiever and I CANNOT miss a point on my first science assignment!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Please! Oh please, oh please, oh please!

With a cherry on top...

Anyone??? PLEASE! I'll pay you in some YA form, which you can decide upon! (I'll star your questions, I'll give your answers thumbs-up, I'll vote for you as best answer...anything!)

Please???

Answer 1

Not sure what your assignment is looking for, but I can think of a couple of potential problems.

First, and simplest - if the suits actually use asbestos. It can be pretty nasty stuff to handle just in itself. There are some pretty well-understood health risks associated with asbestos exposure.

Second, and more in line with the direction I think you were headed. It has to do with human psychology and the perception of risk. If someone believes their protective gear makes them "safe" they may take more risks - risks that can put them in greater danger than their gear can handle. A scientist in a fire suit might go further into the crater, or closer to a lava flow, than they can get out of quickly if the circumstances change quickly. The sensory isolation the suit creates encourage them to concentrate so much on their specific task (tunnel vision) that they lose awareness of their risk environment.

This would be a case of the "law of unintended consequences," where improvements in safety paradoxically make people less safe.

A classic example is the effect of rigid ski boots and release bindings on injuries to recreational skiers. In the early days, a common injury was a fracture in the lower leg. These are quite rare now. Today, there is a much greater incidence of torn knee ligaments - a much more debilitating injury, and one much harder to heal.

Again, I don't know if that's what you're looking for, but I hope it helps.

Answer 2

I tried calling an old friend that was interested in vulcanology, but no luck. I do know that at least some prefer to wear nothing but a fire-retardant helicopter flight suit and sturdy boots for the mobility and being able to sense the heat before it gets them.

I would think asbestos suits would be much more expensive and difficult or impossible to find now, with the health risk asbestos presents. A material called Zetex is a fiberglass weave that can withstand some extreme heat, and for lower heat resistance aramid fiber (Kevlar) and Rayon are used in some other protective clothing applications. I imagine vulcanologists have made similar changes.

Not much of an answer, I know, but it might give you something to go on for searches to feed the over-achiever in you.