Cotton Dust Standard (29 CFR 1910.1043)

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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 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 eight-hour 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.
(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.
(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.
(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
cotton-dust concentration exceeds the PEL is unable to use a respirator, including a powered airpurifying 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.
(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 surveillance—(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, 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 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
(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.
(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
(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-tofiber 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.
(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 37mm 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.
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;
(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;
(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.
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.)
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.
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 + |X̅D| 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 X̅VE. If T ≤0.25 X̅VE, 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]