[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 114 (Thursday, June 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35635-35637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14037]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-13-12SG]


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 and Evaluating Human Systems Integration Needs in 
Mining--New--National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    NIOSH, under Public Law 91-173 as amended by Public Law 95-164 
(Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977), and Public Law 109-236 
(Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006) is requesting 
OMB approval for a new project for a 3-year period. The project is 
aimed at determining the following information with regards to the 
necessary inclusion of Human Systems Integration into research related 
to underground coal mining: (1) What information is critical for a 
miner to safely perform his job, (2) what processes (e.g., expertise, 
decision making, attention, etc.) are necessary for a miner to 
effectively perform his job, and (3) how do the miner and the machine 
interact. The title has changed since publication of the 60-day Federal 
Register Notice (previous title ``Human Systems Integration Design 
Guidelines (MinerFirst) for Improved Mine Worker Safety''). The goals 
of the project remain

[[Page 35636]]

the same but several changes have been made to the research questions 
and plan. Several of the research questions have been updated from the 
initial submission to reflect a more specific focus on identifying 
situational information and the cognitive demands that affect a miner's 
ability to do his or her job. To be consistent with changes to the 
research questions, the data collection instruments, both the number of 
instruments initially proposed as well the content of the instruments 
has changed. Phase I and III of the research project remain unchanged, 
phase II however has been modified. Instead of administering one (1) 
research questionnaire to assess situational awareness or more 
specifically what information miners believe is necessary for them to 
understand and interact with their surroundings and to safely complete 
their jobs, we have developed five (5) research questionnaires to 
accomplish this goal. These research questionnaires are a General 
Preference Questionnaire, a Subject Matter Expert Questionnaire, a Roof 
Bolter Operator Questionnaire, a Cognitive Lighting Questionnaire, and 
a Safety Director Questionnaire. Focus groups are still planned; 
however, this data collection method will be used to perform usability 
testing on any interfaces designed by the Cognitive Engineering Team. 
The Fatigue Risk Management Systems Assessment Tool was removed; Vest 
Usability Testing will be performed in order to determine the usability 
and wearability of mining vests. During Vest Usability Testing miners 
are asked to first complete a Vest Usability questionnaire, wear a 
mining vest for one month while performing their job, and then complete 
a follow up Vest Usability questionnaire. Finally, a Roof Bolter 
Questionnaire was added to the research plan to assess and determine 
the usability and effectiveness of a lighting warning system during 
operation of the roof bolting machine. Findings from these studies will 
be used to obtain the type and flow of information miners need to 
safely perform their jobs as well as test some possible interventions 
to improve situational awareness in this dynamic environment.
    The General Preference Questionnaire was designed to determine how 
and when miners working in an underground coal mine prefer to have 
information about their work environment, the location of themselves, 
others, and equipment communicated to them while they are working. This 
questionnaire will be administered to 75 miners working in an 
underground coal mine.
    The Subject Matter Expert (SME) Questionnaire was designed to 
determine how subject matter experts (e.g., experienced continuous 
miner operators) prefer to have information about their work 
environment, the location of themselves, others and equipment 
communicated to them while they are working. The questionnaire will be 
administered to 50 miners working in an underground coal mine in one of 
two positions: continuous miner operator or fire boss.
    The Safety Director Questionnaire was designed to determine what 
machinery and equipment is currently being used within the underground 
coal mining environment. This questionnaire will be administered to up 
to 50 Safety Directors working at an underground mining operation.
    Vest Usability Testing was designed to examine the effectiveness 
and viability of physically integrating equipment. This will be done by 
asking a group of miners to wear mining vests during their normal work 
hours and complete a questionnaire before and after the vest wearing 
period. Approximately 60 underground coal miners will be asked to take 
part in Vest Usability Testing.
    The Roof Bolter Questionnaire will be used to assess the functional 
lighting needs and problems around roof bolting machines and the 
usability of a lighting feedback system for specific controls. 
Approximately 30 Roof Bolter Operators will be asked to complete the 
Roof Bolter Questionnaire (half before the intervention and half 
after).
    There are no costs to the miners as study participation will take 
place during their normal working hours. Thus, any cost associated with 
the experiment will be incurred by the mining company. The total 
estimated annual burden hours are 442.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of        Number        burden per
         Type of respondent                   Form name             respondents    responses per   response (in
                                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mine Employee......................  Informed Consent...........             285               1            5/60
Mine Employee......................  Talent Waiver..............             285               1            2/60
Mine Employee......................  Demographic Questionnaire..             285               1            2/60
Mine Employee......................  Task and Cognitive Task                  10               1               2
                                      Analyses: Continuous Miner
                                      Operator.
Mine Employee......................  Task and Cognitive Task                  10               1               2
                                      Analyses: Fire Boss.
Mine Employee......................  Direct Observation:                      10               1               4
                                      Continuous Miner Operator.
Mine Employee......................  Direct Observation: Fire                 10               1               4
                                      Boss.
Mine Employee......................  General Preference                       75               1           30/60
                                      Questionnaire.
Mine Employee......................  Subject Matter Expert                    50               1               1
                                      Questionnaire.
Mine Employee......................  Safety Director                          50               1           30/60
                                      Questionnaire.
Mine Employee......................  Roof Bolter Questionnaire..              30               2           15/60
Mine Employee......................  Vest Usability Testing.....              60               2           45/60
Mine Employee......................  Focus Groups...............              30               1               1
Mine Employee......................  Lab Experiments............              30               1               1
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[[Page 35637]]

Ron A. Otten,
Director, Office of Scientific Integrity, Office of the Associate 
Director for Science, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-14037 Filed 6-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P