About the Cotton Dust Safety Course

Certain workplaces, such as yarn manufacturing and textile waste houses, can expose workers to cotton dust. Cotton dust is a colorless, odorless substance produced during the processing and handling of cotton that causes a lung condition known as byssinosis. At best, byssinosis is uncomfortable, but it can also decrease life expectancy and in some cases can cause death.

The goal of this course is to help you understand the risks involved in working in situations where cotton dust exposure is possible, and the safety measures that employers and employees can take to avoid or minimize exposure. We will review ways that workers can be exposed to cotton dust, the symptoms and health effects of exposure, equipment that can isolate or remove the hazard from the workplace, and practices that will reduce the likelihood of exposure. This course will include an overview of the California regulations and reasons why these regulations are in place.

To learn more about Cotton Dust Safety visit our Cal/OSHA Cotton Dust Safety Online Training web page.