[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 137 (Thursday, July 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41693-41694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16839]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30 Day-14-0975]
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted
the following information collection request to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed
information collection is published to obtain comments from the public
and affected agencies.
Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected
agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are
encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a)
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the
accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and
(e) Assess information collection costs.
To request additional information on the proposed project or to
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Written comments and/or
suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be
directed to the Attention: 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
Virtual Reality to Train and Assess Emergency Responders--
Revision--National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
NIOSH, under Public Law 91-173 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) has the
responsibility to conduct research to improve working conditions and to
prevent accidents and occupational diseases in underground coal and
metal/nonmetal mines in the U.S.
The turn of the 21st century started with much promise for the coal
mining industry. Because there was only one underground disaster in the
1990s, it seemed that emergency response in the United States no longer
needed to be a top research priority. However, major coal mine
disasters between 2001 and 2010 have resulted in 65 fatalities. These
events highlighted the critical need to balance investments to reduce
low probability/high severity events with those that focus on frequent,
but less severe injuries and illnesses.
The present research project seeks to determine optimal use of
virtual reality (VR) technologies for training and assessing mine
emergency responders using the Mine Rescue and Escape Training
Laboratory (MRET Lab). Responders include specially trained
individuals, such as mine rescue or fire brigade team members, and also
managers and miners who may either be called upon to respond to an
emergency situation or engage in self-protective actions in response to
an emergency. This project is a step toward determining how new
immersive virtual reality technologies should be used for miner
training and testing in the U.S.
As stated previously in the original information collection request
justification, research activities involving rank-and-file underground
coal miners who participate in the mine escape training may occur at
either the MRET Lab or in an off-site classroom or other typical
instructional setting either at an above-ground mine safety training
facility, mine administration building, or a university or academic
environment (hereinto referenced as the ``classroom setting''). Having
these two subsamples allows us to better assess uses for VR training
applications, determine the potential additive value of training
provided in the MRET Lab, and the potential benefits of adapting
simulation-based mine emergency training to a broader audience. To
accommodate an appropriate amount of mine escape participants for both
the MRET Lab modules and classroom settings, we are requesting adding
60 more participants to our 150 participant data collection cap, which
would ideally leave us with 30 BG4 participants, 60 mine rescue
participants (MRET Lab), 60 mine escape participants (MRET Lab), and 60
mine escape participants (classroom setting), for a new grand total of
210 participants.
The project objective will be achieved through specific aims in two
related areas as illustrated below.
Training assessment:
1. Evaluate four training modules
2. Evaluate participant reactions
3. Develop guidelines
Training development:
4. Use 3D technologies to develop a prototype for a mine rescue
closed-circuit breathing apparatus (e.g., Dr[auml]ger BG4).
To accomplish these goals over the life of the project, researchers
will utilize a variety of data collection strategies, including self-
report pre- and post-test instruments for assessing trainee reaction
and measuring learning. Data collection will take place with
approximately 210 underground coal miners over three years. The
respondents targeted for this study include rank-and-file miners, mine
rescue team members, and mine safety and health professionals. All
participants will be between the ages of 18 and 65, currently employed,
and living in the United States. Findings will be used to improve the
safety and health of underground coal miners by assessing the efficacy
of immersive VR environments for teaching critical mine safety and
health skills.
To assess learning as a result of training, each participant will
complete a pre-training questionnaire, a post-simulation questionnaire,
and a post-training questionnaire. Participants evaluating the closed-
circuit breathing apparatus training will only complete a version of
the pre-training questionnaire. There is no cost to respondents other
than their time. The total estimated burden hours are 47.
[[Page 41694]]
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Average
Number of Number burden per
Type of respondent Form name respondents responses per response (in
respondent hours)
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Dr[auml]ger BG4 participants (i.e., Pre-Training 30 1 3/60
closed circuit breathing apparatus Questionnaire.
training participants).
Mine Rescue participants.............. Pre-Training 60 1 3/60
Questionnaire.
Post-Simulation 60 1 3/60
Questionnaire.
Post-Training 60 1 3/60
Questionnaire.
Mine Escape participants.............. Pre-Training 120 1 3/60
Questionnaire.
Post-Simulation 60 1 3/60
Questionnaire (MRET Lab
version).
Post-Simulation 60 1 3/60
Questionnaire (Field
Test Version).
Post-Training 120 1 3/60
Questionnaire.
Mine Escape/Longwall Mining Pre/Post-Training 60 1 6/60
participants. Knowledge Test.
Mine Escape/Continuous Mining Pre/Post-Training 60 1 6/60
participants. Knowledge Test.
Mine Rescue/Longwall Mining Pre/Post-Training 30 1 6/60
participants. Knowledge Test.
Mine Rescue/Continuous Mining Pre/Post-Training 30 1 6/60
participants. Knowledge Test.
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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. 2014-16839 Filed 7-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P