Cotton dust standards for the raw cotton industries

Abstract

In June 1978, OSHA promulgated 2 new, far more severe, standards for occupational exposure to cotton dust. The Supreme Court recently upheld the cotton dust standard for general industry. However, other court or administrative actions have invalidated the standard, or otherwise delayed its enforcement, for all sectors except textile mills and some downstream manufacturing operations. OSHA is undertaking a review of the standard. How this review affects the various segments of the cotton industry is discussed.