(iv) The employer shall also comply with any additional requirements involving transfer of records set forth in 29 CFR 1910.20(h).

(1) 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) Effective date-(1) General. This section is effective March 27, 1980, except as otherwise provided below.

(2) Startup dates-(i) Initial monitoring. The initial monitoring required by paragraph (d)(2) of this section shall be completed as soon as possible but no later than March 27, 1980.

(ii) Methods of compliance: engineering and work practice controls. (A) The engineering and work practice controls required by paragraph (e) of this section shall be implemented no later than March 27, 1984 except as set forth in paragraph (m)(2)(ii)(B) of this section.

(B) The engineering and work practice controls required by paragraph (e) of this section shall be implemented no later than March 27, 1986, for ring spinning operations (including only ring spinning and winding, twisting, spooling, beaming and warping following ring spinning) where the operations meet the following criteria:

(1) The weight of the yarn being run is 100 percent cotton and the average yarn count by weight is 18 or below;

(2) The average weight of the yarn run is 80 percent or more cotton and the average yarn count by weight is 16 or below; or

(3) The average weight of the yarn being run is 50 percent or more cotton and the average yarn count by weight is 14 or below:

(C) When the provisions of paragraph (m)(2)(ii)(B) of this section are being relied upon, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) The average cotton content shall be determined by dividing the total weight of cotton in the yarns being run by the total weight of all the yarns being run in the relevant work

area.

(2) The average yarn count shall be determined by multiplying the yarn count times the pounds of each particular yarn being run to get the "total hank" for each of the yarns being run in the relevant area. The "total hank” values for all of the yarns being run should then be summed and divided by the total pounds of yarn being run, to produce the average yarn count number for all the yarns being run in the relevant work area.

(D) Where the provisions of paragraph (m)(2)(ii)(B) of this section are being relied upon, the employer shall update the employer's compliance plan no later than February 13, 1986 to indicate the steps being taken to reduce cotton dust levels to 200 μg/m3 through the use of engineering and work practice controls by March 27, 1986.

(E) Where the provisions of paragraph (m)(2)(ii)(B) of the section are being relied upon, the employer shall maintain airborne concentrations of cotton dust below 1000 ug/m3 mean concentration averaged over an eighthour period measured by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument with engineering accuracy and precision with engineering and work practice controls and shall maintain the permissible exposure limit specified by paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section with any combination of engineering controls, work practice controls and respirators.

(iii) Compliance program. The compliance program required by paragraph (e)(3) of this section shall be established no later than March 27, 1981.

(iv) Respirators. The respirators required by paragraph (f) of this section shall be provided no later than April 27, 1980.

(v) Work practices. The work practices required by paragraph (g) of this section shall be implemented no later then June 27, 1980.

(vi) Medical surveillance. The medical surveillance required by paragraph (h) of this section shall be completed no later than March 27, 1981 for the textile industry and no later than June 13, 1986 for the cotton seed processing and waste processing industry.

(vii) Employee education and training. The initial education and training required by paragraph (i) of this section shall be completed as soon as possible but no later then June 27, 1980.

(3) Amendments. The amendments to this section published on December 13, 1985 become effective on February 11, 1986. If the amendments are not in effect because of stays of enforcement or judicial decisions, the provisions published in 29 CFR § 1910.1043 as of July 1, 1985 are effective.

(n) 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 Secre

tary, 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" which has been washed:

(i) On a continuous batt system or a rayon rinse system.

(ii) With water,

(iii) At a temperature of no less than 60° C,

(iv) With a water-to-fiber ratio of no less than 40:1, and

(v) With bacterial levels in the wash water controlled to limit bacterial contamination of the cotton, shall be exempt from all provisions of the standard except the requirements of paragraphs (h) Medical Surveillance, (k)(2) through (4) RecordkeepingMedical Records, and Appendices B, C, and D of this section.

(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.

(0) 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)(1)(iii) of this section, and are appropriate for demonstrating equivalenсу.

APPENDIX A-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 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 ug by air volume in cubic meters to find dust concentration in μg/m. Record in log.