[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61406-61407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24755]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30-Day-13-0835]
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Send written comments
to CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC
20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written comments should be received
within 30 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
[[Page 61407]]
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 need for
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. The total estimated
annualized burden hours are 582.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of Average burden
Type of respondents Form name Number of responses per per response
respondents respondent (in hours)
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Underground Coal Mine Employees....... Safety Culture Survey... 1144 1 20/60
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Behavioral Anchored 201 1 1
Rating Scale Interview.
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Dated: October 2, 2012.
Ron A. Otten,
Director, Office of Scientific Integrity (OSI), Office of the Associate
Director for Science (OADS), Office of the Director Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2012-24755 Filed 10-5-12; 8:45 am]
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