eCFR(29 CFR 1910.143)

ELECTRONIC CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
e-CFR Data is current as of November 3, 2014
Title 29 → Subtitle B → Chapter XVII → Part 1910 → Subpart Z → §1910.1043
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Title 29: Labor
PART 1910—OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS (CONTINUED)
Subpart Z—Toxic and Hazardous Substances

1910.1043 Cotton dust.
(a) Scope and application. (1) This section, in its entirety, applies to the control of employee
exposure to cotton dust in all workplaces where employees engage in yarn manufacturing, engage in
slashing and weaving operations, or work in waste houses for textile operations.
(2) This section does not apply to the handling or processing of woven or knitted materials; to
maritime operations covered by 29 CFR Parts 1915 and 1918; to harvesting or ginning of cotton; or to the
construction industry.
(3) Only paragraphs (h) Medical surveillance, (k)(2) through (4) Recordkeeping—Medical Records,
and Appendices B, C and D of this section apply in all work places where employees exposed to cotton
dust engage in cottonseed processing or waste processing operations.
(4) This section applies to yarn manufacturing and slashing and weaving operations exclusively
using washed cotton (as defined by paragraph (n) of this section) only to the extent specified by
paragraph (n) of this section.
(5) This section, in its entirety, applies to the control of all employees exposure to the cotton dust
generated in the preparation of washed cotton from opening until the cotton is thoroughly wetted.
(6) This section does not apply to knitting, classing or warehousing operations except that
employers with these operations, if requested by NIOSH, shall grant NIOSH access to their employees
and workplaces for exposure monitoring and medical examinations for purposes of a health study to be
performed by NIOSH on a sampling basis.
(b) Definitions. For the purpose of this section:
Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health,
U.S. Department of Labor, or designee;
Blow down means the general cleaning of a room or a part of a room by the use of compressed air.
Blow off means the use of compressed air for cleaning of short duration and usually for a specific
machine or any portion of a machine.
Cotton dust means dust present in the air during the handling or processing of cotton, which may
contain a mixture of many substances including ground up plant matter, fiber, bacteria, fungi, soil,
pesticides, non-cotton plant matter and other contaminants which may have accumulated with the cotton
during the growing, harvesting and subsequent processing or storage periods. Any dust present during
the handling and processing of cotton through the weaving or knitting of fabrics, and dust present in other

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operations or manufacturing processes using raw or waste cotton fibers or cotton fiber byproducts from
textile mills are considered cotton dust within this definition. Lubricating oil mist associated with weaving
operations is not considered cotton dust.
Director means the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or designee.
Equivalent Instrument means a cotton dust sampling device that meets the vertical elutriator
equivalency requirements as described in paragraph (d)(1)(iii) of this section.
Lint-free respirable cotton dust means particles of cotton dust of approximately 15 micrometers or
less aerodynamic equivalent diameter;
Vertical elutriator cotton dust sampler or vertical elutriator means a dust sampler which has a
particle size cut-off at approximately 15 micrometers aerodynamic equivalent diameter when operating at
the flow rate of 7.4 ±0.2 liters of air per minute;
Waste processing means waste recycling (sorting, blending, cleaning and willowing) and garnetting.
Yarn manufacturing means all textile mill operations from opening to, but not including, slashing and
weaving.
(c) Permissible exposure limits and action levels—(1) Permissible exposure limits (PEL). (i) The
employer shall assure that no employee who is exposed to cotton dust in yarn manufacturing and cotton
washing operations is exposed to airborne concentrations of lint-free respirable cotton dust greater than
200 µg/m3 mean concentration, averaged over an eight-hour period, as measured be a vertical elutriator
or an equivalent instrument.
(ii) The employer shall assure that no employee who is exposed to cotton dust in textile mill waste
house operations or is exposed in yarn manufacturing to dust from “lower grade washed cotton” as
defined in paragraph (n)(5) of this section is exposed to airborne concentrations of lint-free respirable
cotton dust greater than 500 µg/m3 mean concentration, averaged over an eight-hour period, as
measured by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument.
(iii) The employer shall assure that no employee who is exposed to cotton dust in the textile
processes known as slashing and weaving is exposed to airborne concentrations of lint-free respirable
cotton dust greater than 750 µg/m3 mean concentration, averaged over an eight hour period, as measured
by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument.
(2) Action levels. (i) The action level for yarn manufacturing and cotton washing operations is an
airborne concentration of lint-free respirable cotton dust of 100 µg/m3 mean concentration, averaged over
an eight-hour period, as measured by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument.
(ii) The action level for waste houses for textile operations is an airborne concentration of lint-free
respirable cotton dust of 250 µg/m3 mean concentration, averaged over an eight-hour period, as
measured by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument.
(iii) The action level for the textile processes known as slashing and weaving is an airborne
concentration of lint-free respirable cotton dust of 375 µg/m3 mean concentration, averaged over an eighthour period, as measured by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument.
(d) Exposure monitoring and measurement—(1) General. (i) For the purposes of this section,
employee exposure is that exposure which would occur if the employee were not using a respirator.

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(ii) The sampling device to be used shall be either the vertical elutriator cotton dust sampler or an
equivalent instrument.
(iii) If an alternative to the vertical elutriator cotton dust sampler is used, the employer shall establish
equivalency by reference to an OSHA opinion or by documenting, based on data developed by the
employer or supplied by the manufacturer, that the alternative sampling devices meets the following
criteria:
(A) It collects respirable particulates in the same range as the vertical elutriator (approximately 15
microns);
(B) Replicate exposure data used to establish equivalency are collected in side-by-side field and
laboratory comparisons; and
(C) A minimum of 100 samples over the range of 0.5 to 2 times the permissible exposure limit are
collected, and 90% of these samples have an accuracy range of plus or minus 25 per cent of the vertical
elutriator reading with a 95% confidence level as demonstrated by a statistically valid protocol. (An
acceptable protocol for demonstrating equivalency is described in appendix E of this section.)
(iv) OSHA will issue a written opinion stating that an instrument is equivalent to a vertical elutriator
cotton dust sampler if
(A) A manufacturer or employer requests an opinion in writing and supplies the following
information:
(1) Sufficient test data to demonstrate that the instrument meets the requirements specified in this
paragraph and the protocol specified in appendix E of this section;
(2) Any other relevant information about the instrument and its testing requested by OSHA; and
(3) A certification by the manufacturer or employer that the information supplied is accurate, and
(B) if OSHA finds, based on information submitted about the instrument, that the instrument meets
the requirements for equivalency specified by paragraph (d) of this section.
(2) Initial monitoring. Each employer who has a place of employment within the scope of paragraph
(a)(1), (a)(4), or (a)(5) of this section shall conduct monitoring by obtaining measurements which are
representative of the exposure of all employees to airborne concentrations of lint-free respirable cotton
dust over an eight-hour period. The sampling program shall include at least one determination during
each shift for each work area.
(3) Periodic monitoring. (i) If the initial monitoring required by paragraph (d)(2) of this section or any
subsequent monitoring reveals employee exposure to be at or below the permissible exposure limit, the
employer shall repeat the monitoring for those employees at least annually.
(ii) If the initial monitoring required by paragraph (d)(2) of this section or any subsequent monitoring
reveals employee exposure to be above the PEL, the employer shall repeat the monitoring for those
employees at least every six months.
(iii) Whenever there has been a production, process, or control change which may result in new or
additional exposure to cotton dust, or whenever the employer has any other reason to suspect an
increase in employee exposure, the employer shall repeat the monitoring and measurements for those
employees affected by the change or increase.

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(4) Employee notification. (i) The employer must, within 15 working days after the receipt of the
results of any monitoring performed under this section, notify each affected employee of these results
either individually in writing or by posting the results in an appropriate location that is accessible to
employees.
(ii) Whenever the results indicate that the employee's exposure exceeds the applicable permissible
exposure limit specified in paragraph (c) of this section, the employer shall include in the written notice a
statement that the permissible exposure limit was exceeded and a description of the corrective action
taken to reduce exposure below the permissible exposure limit.
(e) Methods of compliance—(1) Engineering and work practice controls. The employer shall institute
engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to cotton dust at or
below the permissible exposure limit specified in paragraph (c) of this section, except to the extent that
the employer can establish that such controls are not feasible.
(2) Whenever feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee
exposure to or below the permissible exposure limit, the employer shall nonetheless institute these
controls to reduce exposure to the lowest feasible level, and shall supplement these controls with the use
of respirators which shall comply with the provisions of paragraph (f) of this section.
(3) Compliance program. (i) Where the most recent exposure monitoring data indicates that any
employee is exposed to cotton dust levels greater than the permissible exposure limit, the employer shall
establish and implement a written program sufficient to reduce exposures to or below the permissible
exposure limit solely by means of engineering controls and work practices as required by paragraph
(e)(1) of this section.
(ii) The written program shall include at least the following:
(A) A description of each operation or process resulting in employee exposure to cotton dust at
levels greater than the PEL;
(B) Engineering plans and other studies used to determine the controls for each process;
(C) A report of the technology considered in meeting the permissible exposure limit;
(D) Monitoring data obtained in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section;
(E) A detailed schedule for development and implementation of engineering and work practice
controls, including exposure levels projected to be achieved by such controls;
(F) Work practice program; and
(G) Other relevant information.
(iii) The employer's schedule as set forth in the compliance program, shall project completion of the
implementation of the compliance program no later than March 27, 1984 or as soon as possible if
monitoring after March 27, 1984 reveals exposures over the PEL, except as provided in paragraph
(m)(2)(ii)(B) of this section.
(iv) The employer shall complete the steps set forth in his program by the dates in the schedule.

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(v) Written programs shall be submitted, upon request, to the Assistant Secretary and the Director,
and shall be available at the worksite for examination and copying by the Assistant Secretary, the
Director, and any affected employee or their designated representatives.
(vi) The written program required under paragraph (e)(3) of this section shall be revised and
updated when necessary to reflect the current status of the program and current exposure levels.
(4) Mechanical ventilation. When mechanical ventilation is used to control exposure, measurements
which demonstrate the effectiveness of the system to control exposure, such as capture velocity, duct
velocity, or static pressure shall be made at reasonable intervals.
(f) Respiratory protection—(1) General. For employees who are required to use respirators by this
section, the employer must provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complies with the
requirements of this paragraph. Respirators must be used during:
(i) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls.
(ii) Maintenance and repair activities for which engineering and work-practice controls are not
feasible.
(iii) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient
to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limits.
(iv) Work operations specified under paragraph (g)(1) of this section.
(v) Periods for which an employee requests a respirator.
(2) Respirator program. (i) The employer must implement a respiratory protection program in
accordance with §1910.134(b) through (d) (except (d)(1)(iii)), and (f) through (m), which covers each
employee required by this section to use a respirator.
(ii) Whenever a physician determines that an employee who works in an area in which the cottondust concentration exceeds the PEL is unable to use a respirator, including a powered air-purifying
respirator, the employee must be given the opportunity to transfer to an available position, or to a position
that becomes available later, that has a cotton-dust concentration at or below the PEL. The employer
must ensure that such employees retain their current wage rate or other benefits as a result of the
transfer.
(3) Respirator selection. (i) Employers must:
(A) Select, and provide to employees, the appropriate respirators specified in paragraph (d)(3)(i)(A)
of 29 CFR 1910.134; however, employers must not select or use filtering facepieces for protection against
cotton dust concentrations greater than five times (5 ×) the PEL.
(B) Provide HEPA filters for powered and non-powered air-purifying respirators used at cotton dust
concentrations greater than ten times (10 ×) the PEL.
(ii) Employers must provide an employee with a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) instead of a
non-powered air-purifying respirator selected according to paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this standard when the
employee chooses to use a PAPR and it provides adequate protection to the employee as specified by
paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this standard.

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(g) Work practices. Each employer shall, regardless of the level of employee exposure, immediately
establish and implement a written program of work practices which shall minimize cotton dust exposure.
The following shall be included were applicable:
(1) Compressed air “blow down” cleaning shall be prohibited where alternative means are feasible.
Where compressed air is used for cleaning, the employees performing the “blow down” or “blow off” shall
wear suitable respirators. Employees whose presence is not required to perform “blow down” or “blow of”
shall be required to leave the area affected by the “blow down” or “blow off” during this cleaning
operation.
(2) Cleaning of clothing or floors with compressed air shall be prohibited.
(3) Floor sweeping shall be performed with a vacuum or with methods designed to minimize
dispersal of dust.
(4) In areas where employees are exposed to concentrations of cotton dust greater than the
permissible exposure limit, cotton and cotton waste shall be stacked, sorted, baled, dumped, removed or
otherwise handled by mechanical means, except where the employer can show that it is infeasible to do
so. Where infeasible, the method used for handling cotton and cotton waste shall be the method which
reduces exposure to the lowest level feasible.
(h) Medical survelliance—(1) General. (i) Each employer covered by the standard shall institute a
program of medical surveillance for all employees exposed to cotton dust.
(ii) The employer shall assure that all medical examinations and procedures are performed by or
under the supervision of a licensed physician and are provided without cost to the employee.
(iii) Persons other than licensed physicians, who administer the pulmonary function testing required
by this section shall have completed a NIOSH-approved training course in spirometry.
(2) Initial examinations. The employer shall provide medical surveillance to each employee who is or
may be exposed to cotton dust. For new employees, this examination shall be provided prior to initial
assignment. The medical surveillance shall include at least the following:
(i) A medical history;
(ii) The standardized questionnaire contained in appendix B; and
(iii) A pulmonary function measurement, including a determination of forced vital capacity (FVC) and
forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the FEV1/FVC ratio, and the percentage that the
measured values of FEV1 and FVC differ from the predicted values, using the standard tables in appendix
C. These determinations shall be made for each employee before the employee enters the workplace on
the first day of the work week, preceded by at least 35 hours of no exposure to cotton dust. The tests
shall be repeated during the shift, no less than 4 and no more than 10 hours after the beginning of the
work shift; and, in any event, no more than one hour after cessation of exposure. Such exposure shall be
typical of the employee's usual workplace exposure. The predicted FEV1 and FVC for blacks shall be
multiplied by 0.85 to adjust for ethnic differences.
(iv) Based upon the questionnaire results, each employee shall be graded according to Schilling's
byssinosis classification system.
(3) Periodic examinations. (i) The employer shall provide at least annual medical surveillance for all
employees exposed to cotton dust above the action level in yarn manufacturing, slashing and weaving,

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cotton washing and waste house operations. The employer shall provide medical surveillance at least
every two years for all employees exposed to cotton dust at or below the action level, for all employees
exposed to cotton dust from washed cotton (except from washed cotton defined in paragraph (n)(3) of this
section), and for all employees exposed to cotton dust in cottonseed processing and waste processing
operations. Periodic medical surveillance shall include at least an update of the medical history,
standardized questionnaire (App. B-111), Schilling byssinosis grade, and the pulmonary function
measurements in paragraph (h)(2)(iii) of this section.
(ii) Medical surveillance as required in paragraph (h)(3)(i) of this section shall be provided every six
months for all employees in the following categories:
(A) An FEV1 of greater than 80 percent of the predicted value, but with an FEV1 decrement of 5
percent or 200 ml. on a first working day;
(B) An FEV1 of less than 80 percent of the predicted value; or
(C) Where, in the opinion of the physician, any significant change in questionnaire findings,
pulmonary function results, or other diagnostic tests have occurred.
(iii) An employee whose FEV1 is less than 60 percent of the predicted value shall be referred to a
physician for a detailed pulmonary examination.
(iv) A comparison shall be made between the current examination results and those of previous
examinations and a determination made by the physician as to whether there has been a significant
change.
(4) Information provided to the physician. The employer shall provide the following information to the
examination physician:
(i) A copy of this regulation and its Appendices:
(ii) A description of the affected employee's duties as they relate to the employee's exposure;
(iii) The employee's exposure level or anticipated exposure level;
(iv) A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used; and
(v) Information from previous medical examinations of the affected employee which is not readily
available to the examining physician.
(5) Physician's written opinion. (i) The employer shall obtain and furnish the employee with a copy of
a written opinion from the examining physician containing the following:
(A) The results of the medical examination and tests including the FEV1, FVC, AND FEV1/FVC ratio;
(B) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical conditions which
would place the employee at increased risk of material impairment of the employee's health from
exposure to cotton dust;
(C) The physician's recommended limitations upon the employee's exposure to cotton dust or upon
the employee's use of respirators including a determination of whether an employee can wear a negative

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pressure respirator, and where the employee cannot, a determination of the employee's ability to wear a
powered air purifying respirator; and,
(D) A statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of the results of the medical
examination and any medical conditions which require further examination or treatment.
(ii) The written opinion obtained by the employer shall not reveal specific findings or diagnoses
unrelated to occupational exposure.
(i) Employee education and training—(1) Training program. (i) The employer shall train each
employee exposed to cotton dust in accordance with the requirements of this section. The employer shall
institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program.
(A) The acute and long term health hazards associated with exposure to cotton dust;
(B) The names and descriptions of jobs and processes which could result in exposure to cotton dust
at or above the PEL.
(C) The measures, including work practices required by paragraph (g) of this section, necessary to
protect the employee from exposures in excess of the permissible exposure limit;
(D) The purpose, proper use and limitations of respirators required by paragraph (f) of this section;
(E) The purpose for and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (h)
of this section and other information which will aid exposed employees in understanding the hazards of
cotton dust exposure; and
(F) The contents of this standard and its appendices.
(ii) The training program shall be provided prior to initial assignment and shall be repeated annually
for each employee exposed to cotton dust, when job assignments or work processes change and when
employee performance indicates a need for retraining.
(2) Access to training materials. (i) Each employer shall post a copy of this section with its
appendices in a public location at the workplace, and shall, upon request, make copies available to
employees.
(ii) The employer shall provide all materials relating to the employee training and information
program to the Assistant Secretary and the Director upon request.
(j) Signs. (1) The employer shall post the following warning sign in each work area where the
permissible exposure limit for cotton dust is exceeded:
DANGER
COTTON DUST
CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS
(BYSSINOSIS)
WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA

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(2) Prior to June 1, 2016, employers may use the following legend in lieu of that specified in
paragraph (j)(1) of this section:
WARNING
COTTON DUST WORK AREA
MAY CAUSE ACUTE OR DELAYED
LUNG INJURY
(BYSSINOSIS)
RESPIRATORS
REQUIRED IN THIS AREA

(k) Recordkeeping—(1) Exposure measurements. (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an
accurate record of all measurements required by paragraph (d) of this section.
(ii) The record shall include:
(A) A log containing the items listed in paragraph IV (a) of appendix A, and the dates, number,
duration, and results of each of the samples taken, including a description of the procedure used to
determine representative employee exposure;
(B) The type of protective devices worn, if any, and length of time worn; and
(C) The names, social security numbers, job classifications, and exposure levels of employees
whose exposure the measurement is intended to represent.
(iii) The employer shall maintain this record for at least 20 years.
(2) Medical surveillance. (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate medical record
for each employee subject to medical surveillance required by paragraph (h) of this section.
(ii) The record shall include:
(A) The name and social security number and description of the duties of the employee;
(B) A copy of the medical examination results including the medical history, questionnaire response,
results of all tests, and the physician's recommendation;
(C) A copy of the physician's written opinion;
(D) Any employee medical complaints related to exposure to cotton dust;
(E) A copy of this standard and its appendices, except that the employer may keep one copy of the
standard and the appendices for all employees, provided that he references the standard and appendices
in the medical surveillance record of each employee; and
(F) A copy of the information provided to the physician as required by paragraph (h)(4) of this
section.

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(iii) The employer shall maintain this record for at least 20 years.
(3) Availability. (i) The employer shall make all records required to be maintained by paragraph (k) of
this section available to the Assistant Secretary and the Director for examination and copying.
(ii) Employee exposure measurement records and employee medical records required by this
paragraph shall be provided upon request to employees, designated representatives, and the Assistant
Secretary in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020 (a) through (e) and (g) through (i).
(4) Transfer of records. (i) Whenever the employer ceases to do business, the successor employer
shall receive and retain all records required to be maintained by paragraph (k) of this section.
(ii) The employer shall also comply with any additional requirements involving transfer of records set
forth in 29 CFR 1910.1020(h).
(l) Observation of monitoring. (1) The employer shall provide affected employees or their designated
representatives an opportunity to observe any measuring or monitoring of employee exposure to cotton
dust conducted pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section.
(2) Whenever observation of the measuring or monitoring of employee exposure to cotton dust
requires entry into an area where the use of personal protective equipment is required, the employer shall
provide the observer with and assure the use of such equipment and shall require the observer to comply
with all other applicable safety and health procedures.
(3) Without interfering with the measurement, observers shall be entitled to:
(i) An explanation of the measurement procedures:
(ii) An opportunity to observe all steps related to the measurement of airborne concentrations of
cotton dust performed at the place of exposure; and
(iii) An opportunity to record the results obtained.
(m) Washed Cotton—(1) Exemptions. Cotton, after it has been washed by the processes described
in this paragraph, is exempt from all or parts of this section as specified if the requirements of this
paragraph are met.
(2) Initial requirements. (i) In order for an employer to qualify as exempt or partially exempt from this
standard for operations using washed cotton, the employer must demonstrate that the cotton was washed
in a facility which is open to inspection by the Assistant Secretary and the employer must provide
sufficient accurate documentary evidence to demonstrate that the washing methods utilized meet the
requirements of this paragraph.
(ii) An employer who handles or processes cotton which has been washed in a facility not under the
employer's control and claims an exemption or partial exemption under this paragraph, must obtain from
the cotton washer and make available at the worksite, to the Assistant Secretary, to any affected
employee, or to their designated representative the following:
(A) A certification by the washer of the cotton of the grade of cotton, the type of washing process,
and that the batch meets the requirements of this paragraph;
(B) Sufficient accurate documentation by the washer of the cotton grades and washing process; and

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(C) An authorization by the washer that the Assistant Secretary or the Director may inspect the
washer's washing facilities and documentation of the process.
(3) Medical and dyed cotton. Medical grade (USP) cotton, cotton that has been scoured, bleached
and dyed, and mercerized yarn shall be exempt from all provisions of this standard.
(4) Higher grade washed cotton. The handling or processing of cotton classed as “low middling light
spotted or better” (color grade 52 or better and leaf grade code 5 or better according to the 1993 USDA
classification system) shall be exempt from all provisions of the standard except the requirements of
paragraphs (h) medical surveillance, (k)(2) through (4) recordkeeping—medical records, and Appendices
B, C, and D of this section, if they have been washed on one of the following systems:
(i) On a continuous batt system or a rayon rinse system including the following conditions:
(A) With water;
(B) At a temperature of no less than 60 °C;
(C) With a water-to-fiber ratio of no less than 40:1; and
(D) With the bacterial levels in the wash water controlled to limit bacterial contamination of the
cotton.
(ii) On a batch kier washing system including the following conditions:
(A) With water;
(B) With cotton fiber mechanically opened and thoroughly prewetted before forming the cake;
(C) For low-temperature processing, at a temperature of no less than 60 °C with a water-to-fiber
ratio of no less than 40:1; or, for high-temperature processing, at a temperature of no less than 93 °C with
a water-to-fiber ratio of no less than 15:1;
(D) With a minimum of one wash cycle followed by two rinse cycles for each batch, using fresh
water in each cycle, and
(E) With bacterial levels in the wash water controlled to limit bacterial contamination of the cotton.
(5) Lower grade washed cotton. The handling and processing of cotton of grades lower than “low
middling light spotted,” that has been washed as specified in paragraph (n)(4) of this section and has also
been bleached, shall be exempt from all provisions of the standard except the requirements of
paragraphs (c)(1)(ii) Permissible Exposure Limit, (d) Exposure Monitoring, (h) Medical Surveillance, (k)
Recordkeeping, and Appendices B, C and D of this section.
(6) Mixed grades of washed cotton. If more than one grade of washed cotton is being handled or
processed together, the requirements of the grade with the most stringent exposure limit, medical and
monitoring requirements shall be followed.
(n) Appendices. (1) Appendices B, C, and D of this section are incorporated as part of this section
and the contents of these appendices are mandatory.

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(2) Appendix A of this section contains information which is not intended to create any additional
obligations not otherwise imposed or to detract from any existing obligations.
(3) Appendix E of this section is a protocol which may be followed in the validation of alternative
measuring devices as equivalent to the vertical elutriator cotton dust sampler. Other protocols may be
used if it is demonstrated that they are statistically valid, meet the requirements in paragraph (d)(l)(iii) of
this section, and are appropriate for demonstrating equivalency.

APPENDIX A TO §1910.1043—AIR SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES
FOR DETERMINING CONCENTRATIONS OF COTTON DUST
I. SAMPLING LOCATIONS
The sampling procedures must be designed so that samples of the actual dust concentrations are collected
accurately and consistently and reflect the concentrations of dust at the place and time of sampling. Sufficient number
of 6-hour area samples in each distinct work area of the plant should be collected at locations which provide
representative samples of air to which the worker is exposed. In order to avoid filter overloading, sampling time may
be shortened when sampling in dusty areas. Samples in each work area should be gathered simultaneously or
sequentially during a normal operating period. The daily time-weighted average (TWA) exposure of each worker can
then be determined by using the following formula:

Summation of hours spent in each location and the dust concentration in that location.
Total hours exposed
A time-weighted average concentration should be computed for each worker and properly logged and maintained on
file for review.

II. SAMPLING EQUIPMENT
(a) Sampler. The instrument selected for monitoring is the Lumsden-Lynch vertical elutriator. It should operate
at a flow rate of 7.4±0.2 liters/minute.
The samplers should be cleaned prior to sampling. The pumps should be monitored during sampling.
(b) Filter Holder. A three-piece cassette constructed of polystyrene designed to hold a 37-mm diameter filter
should be used. Care must be exercised to insure that an adequate seal exists between elements of the cassette.
(c) Filers and Support Pads. The membrane filters used should be polyvinyl chloride with a 5-um pore size and
37-mm diameter. A support pad, commonly called a backup pad, should be used under the filter membrane in the
field monitor cassette.
(d) Balance. A balance sensitive to 10 micrograms should be used.
(e) Monitoring equipment for use in Class III hazardous locations must be approved for use in such locations, in
accordance with the requirements of the OSHA electrical standards in subpart S of part 1910.

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III. INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
Samplers shall be calibrated when first received from the factory, after repair, and after receiving any abuse.
The samplers should be calibrated in the laboratory both before they are used in the field and after they have been
used to collect a large number of field samples. The primary standard, such as a spirometer or other standard
calibrating instruments such as a wet test meter or a large bubble meter or dry gas meter, should be used.
Instructions for calibration with the wet test meter follow. If another calibration device is selected, equivalent
procedures should be used:
(a) Level wet test meter. Check the water level which should just touch the calibration point at the left side of
the meter. If water level is low, add water 1-2 °F. warmer than room temperature of till point. Run the meter for 30
minutes before calibration;
(b) Place the polyvinyl chloride membrane filter in the filter cassette;
(c) Assemble the calibration sampling train;
(d) Connect the wet test meter to the train.
The pointer on the meter should run clockwise and a pressure drop of not more than 1.0 inch of water indicated. If the
pressure drop is greater than 1.0, disconnect and check the system;
(e) Operate the system for ten minutes before starting the calibration;
(f) Check the vacuum gauge on the pump to insure that the pressure drop across the orifice exceeds 17 inches
of mercury;
(g) Record the following on calibration data sheets:
(1) Wet test meter reading, start and finish;
(2) Elapsed time, start and finish (at least two minutes);
(3) Pressure drop at manometer;
(4) Air temperature;
(5) Barometric pressure; and
(6) Limiting orifice number;
(h) Calculate the flow rate and compare against the flow of 7.4±0.2 liters/minute. If flow is between these limits,
perform calibration again, average results, and record orifice number and flow rate. If flow is not within these limits,
discard or modify orifice and repeat procedure;
(i) Record the name of the person performing the calibration, the date, serial number of the wet test meter, and
the number of the critical orifices being calibrated.

IV. SAMPLING PROCEDURE
(a) Sampling data sheets should include a log of:
(1) The date of the sample collection;

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(2) The time of sampling;
(3) The location of the sampler;
(4) The sampler serial number;
(5) The cassette number;
(6) The time of starting and stopping the sampling and the duration of sampling;
(7) The weight of the filter before and after sampling;
(8) The weight of dust collected (corrected for controls);
(9) The dust concentration measured;
(10) Other pertinent information; and
(11) Name of person taking sample
(b) Assembly of filter cassette should be as follows:
(1) Loosely assemble 3-piece cassette;
(2) Number cassette;
(3) Place absorbant pad in cassette;
(4) Weigh filter to an accuracy of 10 µg;
(5) Place filter in cassette;
(6) Record weight of filter in log, using cassette number for identification;
(7) Fully assemble cassette, using pressure to force parts tightly together;
(8) Install plugs top and bottom;
(9) Put shrink band on cassette, covering joint between center and bottom parts of cassette; and
(10) Set cassette aside until shrink band dries thoroughly.
(c) Sampling collection should be performed as follows:
(1) Clean lint out of the motor and elutriator;
(2) Install vertical elutriator in sampling locations specified above with inlet 41⁄2 to 51⁄2 feet from floor (breathing
zone height);
(3) Remove top section of cassette;
(4) Install cassette in ferrule of elutriator;

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(5) Tape cassette to ferrule with masking tape or similar material for air-tight seal;
(6) Remove bottom plug of cassette and attach hose containing critical orifice;
(7) Start elutriator pump and check to see if gauge reads above 17 in. of Hg vacuum;
(8) Record starting time, cassette number, and sampler number;
(9) At end of sampling period stop pump and record time; and
(10) Controls with each batch of samples collected, two additional filter cassettes should be subjected to
exactly the same handling as the samples, except that they are not opened. These control filters should be weighed
in the same manner as the sample filters.
Any difference in weight in the control filters would indicate that the procedure for handling sample filters may not be
adequate and should be evaluated to ascertain the cause of the difference, whether and what necessary corrections
must be made, and whether additional samples must be collected.
(d) Shipping. The cassette with samples should be collected, along with the appropriate number of blanks, and
shipped to the analytical laboratory in a suitable container to prevent damage in transit.
(e) Weighing of the sample should be achieved as follows:
(1) Remove shrink band;
(2) Remove top and middle sections of cassette and botton plug;
(3) Remove filter from cassette and weigh to an accuracy of 10 µg; and
(4) Record weight in log against original weight
(f) Calculation of volume of air sampled should be determined as follows:
(1) From starting and stopping times of sampling period, determine length of time in minutes of sampling
period; and
(2) Multiply sampling time in minutes by flow rate of critical orifice in liters per minute and divide by 1000 to find
air quantity in cubic meters.
(g) Calculation of Dust Concentrations should be made as follows:
(1) Substract weight of clean filter from dirty filter and apply control correction to find actual weight of sample.
Record this weight (in µg) in log; and
(2) Divide mass of sample in µg by air volume in cubic meters to find dust concentration in µg/m. Record in log.

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APPENDIX D TO §1910.1043—PULMONARY FUNCTION STANDARDS FOR COTTON
DUST STANDARD
The spirometric measurements of pulmonary function shall conform to the following minimum standards, and
these standards are not intended to preclude additional testing or alternate methods which can be determined to be
superior.

I. APPARATUS
a. The instrument shall be accurate to within ±50 milliliters or within ±3 percent of reading, whichever is greater.
b. The instrument should be capable of measuring vital capacity from 0 to 7 liters BTPS.
c. The instrument shall have a low inertia and offer low resistance to airflow such that the resistance to airflow
at 12 liters per second must be less than 1.5 cm H2 O/(liter/sec).
d. The zero time point for the purpose of timing the FEV1 shall be determined by extrapolating the steepest
portion of the volume time curve back to the maximal inspiration volume (1, 2, 3, 4) or by an equivalent method.

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e. Instruments incorporating measurements of airflow to determine volume shall conform to the same volume
accuracy stated in (a) of this section when presented with flow rates from at least 0 to 12 liters per second.
f. The instrument or user of the instrument must have a means of correcting volumes to body temperature
saturated with water vapor (BTPS) under conditions of varying ambient spirometer temperatures and barometric
pressures.
g. The instrument used shall provide a tracing or display of either flow versus volume or volume versus time
during the entire forced expiration. A tracing or display is necessary to determine whether the patient has performed
the test properly. The tracing must be stored and available for recall and must be of sufficient size that hand
measurements may be made within requirement of paragraph (a) of this section. If a paper record is made it must
have a paper speed of at least 2 cm/sec and a volume sensitivity of at least 10.0 mm of chart per liter of volume.
h. The instrument shall be capable of accumulating volume for a minimum of 10 seconds and shall not stop
accumulating volume before (1) the volume change for a 0.5 second interval is less than 25 milliliters, or (2) the flow
is less than 50 milliliters per second for a 0.5 second interval.
i. The forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1.0) measurements shall comply
with the accuracy requirements stated in paragraph (a) of this section. That is, they should be accurately measured to
within ±50 ml or within ±3 percent of reading, whichever is greater.
j. The instrument must be capable of being calibrated in the field with respect to the FEV1 and FVC. This
calibration of the FEV1 and FVC may be either directly or indirectly through volume and time base measurements.
The volume calibration source should provide a volume displacement of at least 2 liters and should be accurate to
within ±30 milliliters.

II. TECHNIQUE FOR MEASUREMENT OF FORCED VITAL CAPACITY MANEUVER
a. Use of a nose clip is recommended but not required. The procedures shall be explained in simple terms to
the patient who shall be instructed to loosen any tight clothing and stand in front of the apparatus. The subject may
sit, but care should be taken on repeat testing that the same position be used and, if possible, the same spirometer.
Particular attention shall be given to insure that the chin is slightly elevated with the neck slightly extended. The
patient shall be instructed to make a full inspiration from a normal breathing pattern and then blow into the apparatus,
without interruption, as hard, fast, and completely as possible. At least three forced expirations shall be carried out.
During the maneuvers, the patient shall be observed for compliance with instruction. The expirations shall be checked
visually for reproducibility from flow-volume or volume-time tracings or displays. The following efforts shall be judged
unacceptable when the patient:
1. Has not reached full inspiration preceding the forced expiration,
2. Has not used maximal effort during the entire forced expiration,
3. Has not continued the expiration for at least 5 seconds or until an obvious plateau in the volume time curve
has occurred,
4. Has coughed or closed his glottis,
5. Has an obstructed mouthpiece or a leak around the mouthpiece (obstruction due to tongue being placed in
front of mouthpiece, false teeth falling in front of mouthpiece, etc.)
6. Has an unsatisfactory start of expiration, one characterized by excessive hesitation (or false starts), and
therefore not allowing back extrapolation of time 0 (extrapolated volume on the volume time tracing must be less than
10 percent of the FVC.)

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7. Has an excessive variability between the three acceptable curves. The variation between the two largest
FVC's and FEV1's of the three satisfactory tracings should not exceed 10 percent or ±100 milliliters, whichever is
greater.
b. Periodic and routine recalibration of the instrument or method for recording FVC and FEV1.0 should be
performed using a syringe or other volume source of at least 2 liters.

III. INTERPRETATION OF SPIROGRAM
a. The first step in evaluating a spirogram should be to determine whether or not the patient has performed the
test properly or as described in II above. From the three satisfactory tracings, the forced vital capacity (FVC) and
forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1.0) shall be measured and recorded. The largest observed FVC and largest
observed FEV1 shall be used in the analysis regardless of the curve(s) on which they occur.
b. The following guidelines are recommended by NIOSH for the evaluation and management of workers
exposed to cotton dust. It is important to note that employees who show reductions in FEV1/FVC ratio below .75 or
drops in Monday FEV1 of 5 percent or greater on their initial screening exam, should be re-evaluated within a month
of the first exam. Those who show consistent decrease in lung function, as shown on the following table, should be
managed as recommended.

IV. QUALIFICATIONS OF PERSONNEL ADMINISTERING THE TEST
Technicians who perform pulmonary function testing should have the basic knowledge required to produce
meaningful results. Training consisting of approximately 16 hours of formal instruction should cover the following
areas.
a. Basic physiology of the forced vital capacity maneuver and the determinants of airflow limitation with
emphasis on the relation to reproducibility of results.
b. Instrumentation requirements including calibration procedures, sources of error and their correction.
c. Performance of the testing including subject coaching, recognition of improperly performed maneuvers and
corrective actions.
d. Data quality with emphasis on reproducibility.
e. Actual use of the equipment under supervised conditions.
f. Measurement of tracings and calculations of results.

APPENDIX E TO §1910.1043—VERTICAL ELUTRIATOR EQUIVALENCY PROTOCOL
a. Samples to be taken—In order to ascertain equivalency, it is necessary to collect a total of 100 samples from
at least 10 sites in a mill. That is, there should be 10 replicate readings at each of 10 sites. The sites should represent
dust levels which vary over the allowable range of 0.5 to 2 times the permissible exposure limit. Each sample requires
the use of two vertical elutriators (VE's) and at least one but not more than two alternative devices (AD's). Thus, the
end result is 200 VE readings and either 100 or 200 AD readings. The 2 VE readings and the 1 or 2 AD readings at
each time and site must be made simultaneously. That is, the two VE's and one or two AD's must be arranged
together in such a way that they are measuring essentially the same dust levels.

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b. Data averaging—The two VE readings taken at each site are then averaged. These averages are to be used
as the 100 VE readings. If two alternate devices were used, their test results are also averaged. Thus, after this step
is accomplished, there will be 100 VE readings and 100 AD readings.
c. Differences—For each of the 100 sets of measurements (VE and AD) the difference is obtained as the
average VE reading minus the AD reading. Call these differences Di. Thus, we have.
Di = VEi − ADi, i = 1,2, . . . ,100

(1)

Next we compute the arithmetic mean and standard deviations of the differences, using equations (2) and (3),
respectively.
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where N equals the number of differences (100 in this case), XD is the arithmetic mean and SD is the standard
deviation.
We next calculate the critical value as T=KSD+|X̅ D| where K=1.87, based on 100 samples.
d. Equivalency test. The next step is to obtain the average of the 100 VE readings. This is obtained by equation
(4)
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We next multiply 0.25 by X̅ VE. If T ≤0.25 X̅ VE, we can say that the alternate device has passed the equivalency
test.
[43 FR 27394, June 23, 1978; 43 FR 35035, Aug. 8, 1978, as amended at 45 FR 67340, Oct. 10, 1980; 50 FR 51173,
Dec. 13, 1985; 51 FR 24325, July 3, 1986; 54 FR 24334, June 7, 1989; 61 FR 5508, Feb. 13, 1996; 63 FR 1290, Jan.
8, 1998; 65 FR 76567, Dec. 7, 2000; 70 FR 1142, Jan. 5, 2005; 71 FR 16672, 16673, Apr. 3, 2006; 71 FR 50189,
Aug. 24, 2006; 73 FR 75586, Dec. 12, 2008; 76 FR 33609, June 8, 2011; 77 FR 17782, Mar. 26, 2012]

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