• OSHA textile requirements protect workers.Sewing Machine Needle image by C Agoncillo from Fotolia.com
  
  Textile workers often use large and potentially dangerous machines and sharp equipment to perform their work. OSHA textile requirements protect workers in the textile industry from injuries and illnesses associated with their occupations. OSHA holds employers responsible for maintaining safe work practices and safe work equipment. Employers that fail to meet OSHA textile requirements face penalties and citations.
  
  

Means of Stopping

• OSHA requires textile machines to have a means of stopping to prevent injuries. In the event of a power outage, machines must be set to where they do not turn back on automatically when the electricity is restored.
  
  

Maintenance

• OSHA requires that textile equipment receive regular inspections and proper maintenance.
  
  

Steam Pipes

• Textile facilities sometimes have steam pipes that can get very hot and pose a safety hazard. OSHA requirements say that steam pipes within 7 feet of the working area floor must have guards or heat insulation.
  
  

Shearing Machine Guards

• Shearing machines need guards that protect workers from their revolving blades. The opening from the bottom of the guard and the surface of the cloth should be 3/8 inch or smaller, according to OSHA requirements.
  
  

Cotton Dust Exposure

• OSHA creates requirements regarding cotton dust from weaving, slashing operations, yarn manufacturing, work houses for textile operations and waste houses for textile operations. Since cotton dust can cause respiratory problems, OSHA limits employee exposure from cotton washing and yarn work to 200 ug/m(3) of cotton dust averaged over an 8 hour workday. Those who work in slashing or weaving operations should not be exposed to more than 750 ug/m(3) of cotton dust averaged over an 8 hour workday.
  
  

First Aid

• Workers who use caustic chemicals or acids in the textile industry should have easy access to large amounts of running water to wash the chemicals off in case of skin contact.
  
  

Protective Equipment

• Workers in the textile industry should use any helpful protective equipment when they work with potentially hazardous chemicals, such as acids and caustics.
  
  

Hazard Markings

• OSHA holds employers responsible for making sure that physical hazards have proper identification and markings. Fire hazards, flammable liquids and emergency stop bars and buttons should have red labels or coloring. OSHA tells employers to use yellow to identify other physical hazards in the workplace, like tripping hazards.