[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42314-42316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17456]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-12-0835]
Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and
Recommendations
In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects.
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404-639-7570
and send comments to Kimberly S. Lane, at CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-
D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an email to [email protected].
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance
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of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Written
comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.
Proposed Project
Assessing the Safety Culture of Underground Coal Mining (0920-0835
Expiration 12/31/2012)--Revision--National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC).
Background and Brief Description
NIOSH, under Public Law 91-596, Sections 20 and 22 (Section 20-22,
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970) has the responsibility to
conduct research relating to innovative methods, techniques, and
approaches dealing with occupational safety and health problems.
This research relates to occupational safety and health problems in
the coal mining industry. In recent years, coal mining safety has
attained national attention due to highly publicized disasters. Despite
these threats to worker safety and health, the U.S. relies on coal
mining to meet its electricity needs. For this reason, the coal mining
industry must continue to find ways to protect its workers while
maintaining productivity. One way to do so is through improving the
safety culture at coal mines. In order to achieve this culture,
operators, employees, the inspectorate, etc. must share a fundamental
commitment to it as a value. This type of culture is known in other
industries as a ``safety culture.'' Safety culture can be defined as
the characteristics of the work environment, such as the norms, rules,
and common understandings that influence employees' perceptions of the
importance that the organization places on safety.
NIOSH requests OMB approval to collect safety culture data from
underground coal mine employees over a three-year period to continue
the assessment of the current safety culture of underground coal mining
in order to identify recommendations for promoting and ensuring the
existence of a positive safety culture across the industry. Up to four
underground coal mines will be studied for this assessment in an
attempt to study mines of different characteristics. Small, medium, and
large unionized as well as nonunionized mines will be recruited to
diversify the research sample. Data will be collected one time at each
mine; this is not a longitudinal study. The assessment includes the
collection of data using several diagnostic tools: functional analysis,
structured interviews, behavioral observations, and surveys.
It is estimated that across the four mines, approximately 1,144
respondents will be surveyed. The exact number of interviews conducted
will be based upon the number of individuals in the mine populations,
but it is estimated that, across the four mines, approximately 201
interviews will be conducted. An exact number of participants is
unavailable at this time because not all mine sites have been selected.
The use of multiple methods to assess safety culture is a key
aspect to the methodology. After all of the information has been
gathered, a variety of statistical and qualitative analyses are
conducted on the data to obtain conclusions with respect to the mine's
safety culture. The results from these analyses will be presented in a
report describing the status of the behaviors important to safety
culture at that mine.
Data collection for this project had previously taken place between
the dates of January 1, 2010 and May 1, 2012. During this time period,
safety culture assessments were conducted at five underground coal
mines, including one small, two medium, and two large mines located in
the Northern Appalachian, Central Appalachian, Southern Appalachian,
and Western coal regions. One of the assessments was conducted at a
unionized mine and the four other assessments were conducted at non-
union mines. Data were collected from 274 interview participants and
1,356 survey respondents.
From this previous data collection, some trends are beginning to
emerge. These include safety culture characteristic differences
depending on the size of the mine and also differences between union
and non-union mines. However, the sample of participating mines from
the previous data collection is not sufficient for conclusions to be
drawn regarding these emerging trends. Therefore, the continuation of
data collection is needed in order to include additional union mines
and small mines into the study sample.
Upon completion, this project will provide recommendations for the
enactment of new safety practices or the enhancement of existing safety
practices across the underground coal mining industry. This final
report will present a generalized model of a positive safety culture
for underground coal mines that can be applied at individual mines. In
addition, all study measures and procedures will be available for mines
to use in the future to evaluate their own safety cultures. There is no
cost to respondents other than their time.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Average
Number of Number of burden per Total burden
Type of respondents Form name respondents responses per response (in (in hours)
respondent hours)
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Underground Coal Mine Safety Culture 1144 1 20/60 381
Employees. Survey.
Behavioral 201 1 1 201
Anchored Rating
Scale Interview.
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Total..................... ................ .............. .............. .............. 582
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Kimberly S. Lane,
Deputy Director, Office of Science Integrity, Office of the Associate
Director for Science, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2012-17456 Filed 7-17-12; 8:45 am]
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