[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 8, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19337-19338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07738]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-14-0260]
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 or
send comments to LeRoy Richardson, 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 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
Health Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance--Requests and
Emerging Problems (0920-0260, Expiration 11/30/2014)--Revision--
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
In accordance with its mandates under the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970 and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977,
the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
responds to requests for health hazard evaluations (HHE) to identify
chemical, biological or physical hazards in workplaces throughout the
United States. Each year, NIOSH receives approximately 300 such
requests. Most HHE requests come from the following types of companies:
Service, manufacturing, health and social services, transportation,
construction, agriculture, mining, skilled trade and construction.
A printed HHE request form is available in English and in Spanish.
The form is also available on the Internet and differs from the printed
version only in format and in the fact that it can be submitted
directly from the Web site. The request form takes an estimated 12
minutes to complete. The form provides the mechanism for employees,
employers, and other authorized representatives to supply the
information required by the regulations governing the NIOSH HHE program
(42 CFR 85.3-1). If employees are submitting the form, it must contain
the signatures of three or more current employees. However, regulations
allow a single signature if the requestor: Is one of three (3) or fewer
employees in the process, operation, or job of concern; or is any
officer of a labor union representing the employees for collective
bargaining purposes. An individual management official may request an
evaluation on behalf of the employer. The information provided is used
by NIOSH to determine whether there is reasonable cause to justify
conducting an investigation and provides a mechanism to respond to the
requestor.
NIOSH reviews the HHE request to determine if an on-site evaluation
is needed. The primary purpose of an on-site evaluation is to help
employers and employees identify and eliminate occupational health
hazards. For 40% of the requests received NIOSH determines an on-site
evaluation is needed.
In about 70% of on-site evaluations, employees are interviewed to
help further define concerns. Interviews may take approximately 15
minutes per respondent. The interview questions are specific to each
workplace and its suspected diseases and hazards. However, interviews
are based on standard medical practices.
In approximately 30% of on-site evaluations (presently estimated to
be 38 facilities), questionnaires are distributed to the employees
(averaging about 100 employees per site). Questionnaires may require
approximately 30 minutes to complete. The survey questions are specific
to each workplace and its suspected diseases and hazards, however,
items in the questionnaires are derived from standardized or widely
used medical and epidemiologic data collection instruments.
About 70% of the on-site evaluations involve employee exposure
monitoring in the workplace. Employees participating in on-site
evaluations by wearing a sampler or monitoring device to measure
personal workplace exposures are offered the opportunity to get a
written notice of their exposure results. To indicate their preference
and, if interested, provide mailing information, employees complete a
contact information post card. The previous approved information
collection request has been revised to include the post card, which may
take 5 minutes or less to complete. The number of employees monitored
for
[[Page 19338]]
workplace exposures per on-site evaluation is estimated to be 25 per
site.
NIOSH distributes interim and final reports of health hazard
evaluations, excluding personal identifiers, to: requesters, employers,
employee representatives; the Department of Labor (Occupational Safety
and Health Administration or Mine Safety and Health Administration, as
appropriate); state health departments; and, as needed, other state and
federal agencies.
NIOSH administers a follow-back program to assess the effectiveness
of its HHE program in reducing workplace hazards. This program entails
the mailing of follow-back questionnaires to employer and employee
representatives at all the workplaces where NIOSH conducted an on-site
evaluation. In a small number of instances, a follow-back on-site
evaluation may be completed. The first follow-back questionnaire is
sent shortly after the first visit for an on-site evaluation and takes
about 15 minutes to complete. A second follow-back questionnaire is
sent a year later and requires about 15 minutes to complete. At 24
months, a third follow-back questionnaire is sent which takes about 15
minutes to complete.
For requests where NIOSH does not conduct an on-site evaluation,
the requestor receives the first follow-back questionnaire 12 months
after our response and a second one 24 months after our response. The
first questionnaire takes about 10 minutes to complete and the second
questionnaire takes about 15 minutes to complete.
Because of the number of investigations conducted each year, the
need to respond quickly to requests for assistance, the diverse and
unpredictable nature of these investigations, and its follow-back
program to assess evaluation effectiveness; NIOSH requests clearance
for data collections performed within the domain of its HHE program.
There is no cost to respondents other than their time.
Estimate of Annualized Burden Hours
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Average
Number of Number of burden per Total burden
Type of respondent Form respondents responses per response in hours
respondent hours
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Employees and Representatives. Health Hazard 225 1 12/60 45
Evaluation
Request Form.
Employers\*\.................. Health Hazard 75 1 12/60 15
Evaluation
Request Form.
Employees..................... Health Hazard 2,670 1 15/60 668
Evaluation
specific
interview
example.
Employees..................... Health Hazard 3,800 1 30/60 1,900
Evaluation
specific
questionnaire
example.
Employees..................... Contact 2,225 1 5/60 186
information
post card.
Employees and Representatives; First follow- 252 1 15/60 63
Employers--Year 1 (on-site back
evaluation). questionnaire.
Second follow- 252 1 15/60 63
back
questionnaire.
Employees and Representatives; Third follow- 252 1 15/60 63
Employers--Year 2 (on-site back
evaluation). questionnaire.
Employees and Representatives; First follow- 90 1 10/60 15
Employers--Year 1 (without on- back
site evaluation). questionnaire.
Employees and Representatives; Second follow- 90 1 15/60 23
Employers--Year 2 (without on- back
site evaluation). questionnaire.
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Total..................... ................ .............. .............. .............. 3,041
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LeRoy Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2014-07738 Filed 4-7-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P