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News Release
Wednesday, June 24, 1998
Contact: Jeff Ezell (202) 219-8151

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will conduct a review of the Cotton Dust Standard during two public meetings scheduled for July 24 and July 30 in Atlanta and Washington, respectively.

The purpose of the review is to determine whether the standard that has been in place since 1978 should be maintained, rescinded or modified to make it more effective and less burdensome to small employers.

If OSHA determines, based on the results of the review, that the standard should be repealed or altered, appropriate rulemaking will be initiated.

The current standard controls employee exposure to cotton dust in all workplaces where employees engage in yarn manufacturing, slashing and weaving operations or work in waste houses for textile operations. The basis for the Cotton Dust Standard was OSHA's determination that exposure to cotton dust presents a significant health hazard to employees.

Exposure to cotton dust, which may contain a mixture of many substances, including ground-up plant matter, bacteria, fungi, soil, pesticides and other contaminants, can lead to a chronic respiratory disease known as hyssinosis ("brown lung"). It also can produce respiratory symptoms characteristic of chronic lung disease, such as chronic bronchitis, asthma and emphysema.

OSHA welcomes written comments on all aspects of the Cotton Dust Standard. Comments should be submitted in quadruplicate by August 31 to Elaine Bynum, Docket Officer, Docket No. H-052-F, OSHA Docket Office, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210; telephone (202) 219-7984; fax (202) 219-5046. Comments of 10 pages or fewer may be faxed as long as paper copies are subsequently sent.

Requests to speak at the public meeting should be sent to Kathryn Condit, Office of Regulatory Analysis, Directorate of Policy, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Room N-3637, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20210; telephone (202) 219-4916, ext. 145; fax (202) 219-4383.

The request should identify the person and organization intending to speak, desired date of appearance, address, phone/fax number, the amount of time needed, audiovisual requirements and a brief summary of the comments to be presented. OSHA will make every effort to accommodate individuals wishing to speak. The deadline for requests is July 17 for the meeting in Atlanta and July 23 for the meeting in Washington.

The Atlanta meeting will be held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Atlanta Airport, 1900 Sullivan Road, College Park, Ga.; telephone (770) 997-1100; fax (770) 997-1921. The meeting in Washington will be held in the auditorium of the Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W. Both meetings will begin at 9 a.m. and end at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Notice of this meeting appeared in the Federal Register on June 23, 1998 (FR Doc. 98-16624).