Cotton Dust (Raw)
Cotton Dust (Raw)
Cotton Dust (Raw)
REASON FOR CITATION NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is less
* Cotton Dust is on the Hazardous Substance List because than 0.2 mg/m3 (as lint-free Cotton Dust)
it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH and NIOSH. averaged over a 10-hour workshift.
* Definitions are provided on page 5.
ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is
HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING 0.2 mg/m3 (as Cotton Dust) averaged over an 8-
EXPOSED hour workshift.
The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers
to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE
employers to provide their employees with information and * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust
training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust
federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be
requires private employers to provide similar training and worn.
information to their employees. * Wear protective work clothing.
* Wash thoroughly at the end of the workshift.
* Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In
evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area addition, as part of an ongoing education and training
air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results effort, communicate all information on the health and
from your employer. You have a legal right to this safety hazards of Cotton Dust to potentially exposed
information under OSHA 1910.1020. workers.
* If you think you are experiencing any work-related health
problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational
diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you.
COTTON DUST page 2 of 6
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The following information is available from:
Medical Evaluation
If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to
chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the
Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational
Health Service, who can help you find the information you
need.
Public Presentations
Presentations and educational programs on occupational health
or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor unions,
trade associations and other groups.
DEFINITIONS
ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental NAERG is the North American Emergency Response
Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada, the
TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. United States Department of Transportation and the Secretariat
of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. It is a
A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific or
generic hazards of material involved in a transportation
The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts incident, and to protect themselves and the general public
Service to identify a specific chemical. during the initial response phase of the incident.
A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that
determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals.
A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes
irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies
substances according to their fire and explosion hazard.
DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators,
DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards
that regulates the transportation of chemicals. to OSHA.
EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests
agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer.
A fetus is an unborn human or animal. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
which adopts and enforces health and safety standards.
A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will
ignite easily and burn rapidly. PEL is the Permissible Exposure Limit which is enforceable by
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid
gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison
Inhalation Hazards.
HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal
EPA. ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a
measure of concentration by volume in air.
IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a
scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases
cancer-causing potential. energy under certain conditions.
A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly dissolve A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by
in another. damaging the fetus.
mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure
It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). limit recommended by ACGIH.
A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation is The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a
a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure
lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer. indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and
therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.
page 6 of 6
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> E M E R G E N C Y I N F O R M A T I O N <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Common Name: COTTON DUST (RAW) HANDLING AND STORAGE
DOT Number: None
NAERG Code: No Citation * Prior to working with Cotton Dust you should be trained
CAS Number: None on its proper handling and storage.
* Cotton Dust is not compatible with OXIDIZING
AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES,
Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA PERMAN-GANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES,
FLAMMABILITY 3 (Dust) - CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE).
2 (Fiber) - * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated
REACTIVITY 0 - area away from HEAT or FLAME.
FLAMMABLE IN DUST FORM
COMBUSTIBLE IN FIBER FORM
FIRST AID
In NJ, for POISON INFORMATION call 1-800-764-7661
Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate;
3=serious; 4=severe
Eye Contact
* Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least
FIRE HAZARDS
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids.
* Cotton Dust is a FLAMMABLE DUST or a
COMBUSTIBLE FIBER.
Skin Contact
* Remove contaminated clothing. Wash contaminated skin
* Use water only. DO NOT USE CHEMICAL or CO2,
with soap and water.
extinguishers.
* Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool.
* If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be
Breathing
* Remove the person from exposure.
trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156.
* Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if
breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped.
SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES * Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
If Cotton Dust is spilled, take the following steps:
PHYSICAL DATA
* Remove all ignition sources.
* Collect solid material in the most convenient and safe Vapor Pressure: 0 mm Hg at 68oF (20oC)
manner and deposit in sealed containers. Water Solubility: Insoluble
* Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete.
* It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Cotton Dust OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES
as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your Chemical Name:
regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Cotton Dust
Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. Other Names:
* If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be Raw Cotton Fibers
properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be
applicable. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial
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FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire
purposes.
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department. You can request emergency information from the
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
following:
SENIOR SERVICES
Right to Know Program
CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300
PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368
NJDEP HOTLINE: 1-877-WARN-DEP
(609) 984-2202
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