[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51338-51340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20477]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30Day-14-0260]
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
Health Hazard Evaluations/Technical Assistance 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
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977, mandates the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) respond 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.
[[Page 51339]]
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. Completing the contact card may take 5
minutes or less. The number of employees monitored for 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 10 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 a
consolidated clearance for data collections performed within the domain
of its HHE program. There is no cost to respondents other than their
time. The total estimated annual burden hours are 3,019.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Average
Number of Number of burden per
Type of respondent Form respondents responses per response in
respondent hours
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Employees and representatives/ Health Hazard Evaluation 300 1 12/60
employers. Request Form.
Employees.......................... Health Hazard Evaluation 2,670 1 15/60
specific interview example.
Employees.......................... Health Hazard Evaluation 3,800 1 30/60
specific questionnaire
example.
Employees.......................... Contact information post 2,225 1 5/60
card.
Employees and Representatives; First follow-back 252 1 10/60
Employers--Year 1 (on-site questionnaire.
evaluation).
Second follow-back 252 1 15/60
questionnaire.
Employees and Representatives; Third follow-back 252 1 15/60
Employers--Year 2. questionnaire.
(on-site evaluation)...............
Employees and Representatives; First follow-back 90 1 10/60
Employers--Year 1. questionnaire.
(without on-site evaluation).......
Employees and Representatives; Second follow-back 90 1 15/60
Employers--Year 2. questionnaire.
(without on-site evaluation).......
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[[Page 51340]]
Leroy A. 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. 2014-20477 Filed 8-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P