[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66381-66382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26473]



[[Page 66381]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-15-14AOD]


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

    Incentives for the Adoption of the Youth@Work--Talking Safety 
Curriculum--New--National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health (NIOSH) is to promote safety and health at work for all people 
through research and prevention. Working youth have long been a 
priority area for NIOSH. Approximately 17.5 million workers were less 
than 24 years of age in 2010, representing 13% of the workforce [NIOSH 
2014]. For the period 1997 through 2003, nearly 80% of high school 
students reported working while still in high school [BLS 2005; NIOSH 
2013]. During the 10-year period 1998-2007, an estimated 7.9 million 
nonfatal injuries to younger workers were treated in U.S. hospital 
emergency departments (EDs) [CDC 2010]. The nonfatal injury rate was 
5.0 ED-treated injuries per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, 
approximately two times higher than among workers age 25 or over [CDC 
2010].
    Given the disproportionate number of workplace injuries and 
illnesses suffered by young workers, occupational safety education is a 
critical and urgent concern [Chin et al. 2010]. Although the 
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970 regulates that 
employers have the primary responsibility for providing a safe and 
healthy workplace, future working generations should be equipped with a 
foundation of workplace safety and health knowledge and skills. A 
mastery of general occupational safety and health competencies that 
protect workers from injury or illness is key to any work-readiness 
effort and to every job. NIOSH has developed fundamental workplace 
safety and health competencies that apply to all workplaces [NIOSH 
2013; Schulte et al. 2014]. The eight core workplace safety and health 
competencies are general transferable skills that can apply across all 
industries. They can be used with the job-specific skills that workers 
gain through apprenticeship and career technical or vocational training 
programs. These core competencies/skills can be used to improve the 
health and safety of individuals in other places as well, such as in 
homes, schools, or communities.
    The purpose of this study is therefore to conduct key informant 
interviews with a limited number of assistant superintendents and/or 
curriculum coordinators in school districts across the country to 
assess their openness to incorporating workplace safety and health 
skills for young workers into their programs as a vital component of 
their curricula in both academic and vocational education programs at 
the middle and high school level. The information will inform NIOSH on 
incentives barriers for the inclusion of work place safety and health 
competencies as the ``missing life skill'' in the curricula and 
programs of U.S. middle schools and high schools. Providing youth with 
foundational workplace health and safety skills enables young workers 
to better protect themselves and others and to contribute to safe and 
healthy working conditions.
    For this project, twenty-eight (28) key informant interviews will 
be conducted, from a recruitment pool of eighty-four (84) school 
districts. The recruitment pool will consist of twenty-one (21) 
randomly assigned districts from each of the four (4) regions of the 
United States (Northeast, Midwest, West, and South) as defined by the 
U.S. Census Bureau. In each region, a sample of districts will be 
selected based on jurisdictional density, as defined by the National 
Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Recruitment letters will first 
be sent to the superintendent's office of the school districts selected 
for the recruitment pool. A recruitment call to the superintendent's 
office will follow in order to gauge the district's interest in 
participating and to identify the best potential respondent for that 
district. Next, the potential respondents will receive a recruitment 
letter detailing the objectives of the study, followed by a recruitment 
call to secure their participation and schedule an interview.
    The twenty-eight (28) selected participants for this data 
collection will be recruited with the assistance of a contractor who 
has successfully performed similar tasks for NIOSH in the past. The 
sample size is based on recommendations related to qualitative 
interview methods and the research team's prior experience. The 
interview discussion guide will be administered verbally by phone to 
participants in English. Once this study is complete, results will be 
made available via various means including print publications and the 
agency internet site. The information gathered by this project will 
inform NIOSH of the receptivity and barriers faced by these school 
districts for incorporating workplace safety and health competencies 
for young workers as a vital component of their curricula within 
academic and vocational education programs at the middle and high 
school level.
    There is no cost to respondents other than their time. The total 
estimated annual burden hours are 34.

[[Page 66382]]



                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per
          Type of respondents                   Form name           respondents    responses per   response (in
                                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public School Officials...............  Recruitment Call to                   84               1            7/60
                                         Superintendent Office
                                         Script.
Public School Officials...............  Recruitment Call to                   84               1            7/60
                                         Respondent Script.
Public School Officials...............  Discussion Guide........              28               1           30/60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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. 2014-26473 Filed 11-6-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P