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.
DANGER
COTTON DUST
CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS
(BYSSINOSIS)
WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA
WARNING
COTTON DUST WORK AREA
MAY CAUSE ACUTE OR DELAYED
LUNG INJURY
(BYSSINOSIS)
RESPIRATORS
REQUIRED IN THIS AREA
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.
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 [MICRO]g;
(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 [MICRO]g; 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 [MICRO]g) in log; and
(2) Divide mass of sample in [MICRO]g by air volume in cubic meters to find dust concentration in [MICRO]g/m. Record in log.
Appendix B-I to § 1910.1043 -Respiratory Questionnaire
Appendix B-II to § 1910.1043 -Respiratory Questionnaire for Non-Textile Workers for the Cotton Industry
Appendix B-III to § 1910.1043 -Abbreviated Respiratory Questionnaire
Appendix C to § 1910.1043 -[Reserved]
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. 1. Instruments purchased on or before May 14, 2020 should be capable of measuring vital capacity from 0 to 7 liters BTPS
2. Instruments purchased after May 14, 2020 should be capable of measuring vital capacity from 0 to 8 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. 1. Instruments purchased on or before May 14, 2020 that incorporate measurements of airflow to determine volume shall conform to the same volume accuracy stated in paragraph (a) of this section I when presented with flow rates from at least 0 to 12 liters per second.
2. Instruments purchased after May 14, 2020 that incorporate measurements of airflow to determine volume shall conform to the same volume accuracy stated in paragraph (a) of this section I when presented with flow rates from at least 0 to 14 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. 1. Instruments purchased on or before May 14, 2020 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 the volume accuracy requirements of paragraph (a) of this section I. 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.
2. Instruments purchased after May 14, 2020 shall provide during testing a paper tracing or real-time display of flow versus volume and volume versus time for the entire forced expiration. Such a tracing or display is necessary to determine whether the worker has performed the test properly. Flow-volume and volume-time curves must be stored and available for recall. Real-time displays shall have a volume scale of at least 5 mm/L, a time scale of at least 10 mm/s, and a flow scale of at least 2.5 mm/L/s, when both flow-volume and volume-time displays are visible. If hand measurements will be made, paper tracings must be of sufficient size to allow those measurements to be made within the volume accuracy requirements of paragraph (a) of this section I. 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. 1. Instruments purchased on or before May 14, 2020 shall be capable of accumulating volume for a minimum of 10 seconds and shall not stop accumulating volume before (i) the volume change for a 0.5-second interval is less than 25 milliliters, or (ii) the flow is less than 50 milliliters per second for a 0.5 second interval.
2. Instruments purchased after May 14, 2020 shall be capable of accumulating volume for a minimum of 15 seconds and shall not stop accumulating volume before the volume change for a 1-second interval is less than 25 milliliters.
i. The forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) 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. 1. Instruments purchased on or before May 14, 2020 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 + or-30 milliliters.
2. Instruments purchased after May 14, 2020 must be capable of having its calibration checked in the field and be recalibrated, if necessary, if the spirometer requires the technician to do so. The volume-calibration syringe shall provide a volume displacement of at least 3 liters and shall be accurate to within ± 0.5 percent of 3 liters (15 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 worker who shall be instructed to loosen any tight clothing and stand in front of the apparatus. The worker 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 ensure that the chin is slightly elevated with the neck slightly extended. The worker 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 and no more than eight forced expirations shall be carried out. During the maneuvers, the worker shall be observed for compliance with instruction. The expirations shall be checked visually for technical acceptability and repeatability from flow-volume or volume-time tracings or displays. The following efforts shall be judged technically unacceptable when the worker:
1. Has not reached full inspiration preceding the forced expiration,
2. Has not used maximal effort during the entire forced expiration,
3. Has not tried to exhale continuously for at least 6 seconds and the volume-time curve shows no change in volume ([LESS THAN]0.025 L) for at least one second,
4. Has coughed in the first second or closed the 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 150 milliliters or 5 percent of the FVC, whichever is greater.), and
7. Has an excessive variability between the acceptable curves. The difference between the two largest FVCs from the satisfactory tracings shall not exceed 150 milliliters and the difference between the two largest FEV1s of the satisfactory tracings shall not exceed 150 milliliters.
b. Calibration checks of the volume accuracy of the instrument for recording FVC and FEV1 shall be performed daily or more frequently if specified by the spirometer manufacturer, using a 3-liter syringe. Calibration checks to ensure that the spirometer is recording 3 liters of injected air to within ±3.5 percent, or 2.90 to 3.10 liters, shall be conducted. Calibration checks of flow-type spirometers shall include injection of 3 liters air over a range of speeds, with injection times of 0.5 second, 3 seconds, and 6 or more seconds. Checks of volume-type spirometers shall include a single calibration check and a check to verify that the spirometer is not leaking more than 30 milliliters/minute air.
III. Interpretation of Spirogram
a. The first step in evaluating a spirogram should be to determine whether or not the worker has performed the test properly or as described in section II of this appendix. From the three satisfactory tracings, the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) 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. [Reserved]
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 repeatability of results.
b. Instrumentation requirements, including calibration check procedures, sources of error, and their correction.
c. Performance of the testing including worker coaching, recognition of improperly performed maneuvers and corrective actions.
d. Data quality with emphasis on repeatability.
e. Actual use of the equipment under supervised conditions.
f. Measurement of tracings and calculations of results.
29 C.F.R. §1910.1043