A question I'm wondering about as we as a professional community consider the aftermath of the UCLA lab fire and its legal follow up is whether there is a reason beyond finances to not use fire resistant lab coats in the lab setting. I recognize that both the initial and maintenance costs associated with fire resistant coats are significantly higher than alternatives, but I wonder if there are other disadvantages associated with their use.

Thanks for any information about this.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH CCHO

Chemical Hygiene Officer

Department of Environmental Health and Safety

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY 14850

rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu