[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 110 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28875-28877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14171]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement 624]
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Work
Organization Interventions To Prevent Work-Related Musculoskeletal
Disorders in Office and Video Display Terminal Work
Introduction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1996 funds for a cooperative agreement
program to develop work organization interventions to prevent
musculoskeletal disorders in office and video display terminal (VDT)
workers.
The CDC is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease
prevention objectives of Healthy People 2000, national activity to
reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life. This
announcement is related to the priority area of Occupational Safety and
Health. (For ordering a copy of Healthy People 2000, see the section
WHERE TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.)
Authority
This program is authorized under Sections 20(a) and 22(e)(7) of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act [29 U.S.C. 669(a) and 671(e)(7)].
Smoke-Free Workplace
The CDC strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a
smoke-free workplace and promote the nonuse of all tobacco products,
and Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking
in certain facilities that receive Federal funds in which education,
library, day care, health care, and early childhood development
services are provided to children.
Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private, non-profit and
for-profit organizations and governments, and their agencies. Thus,
universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals, other public
and private organizations, State and local health departments or their
bona fide agents, federally recognized Indian tribal governments,
Indian tribes or Indian tribal organizations, and small, minority- and/
or women-owned businesses are eligible to apply.
Availability of Funds
Approximately $140,000 is available in FY 1996 to fund one award.
It is expected that the award will begin on or about September 30,
1996, and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project
period of one year. The funding estimate is subject to change.
Applications should be focused on the research priorities described
in the section ``FUNDING PRIORITIES'' that includes new research
priorities developed in a process which resulted in defining a National
Occupational Research Agenda. Proposals in these areas will compete for
the available funds as noted in the previous paragraph.
Purpose
The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to utilize the special
resources of the extramural research community to conduct studies. The
funded project will focus on worksite primary prevention efforts,
replicating and extending the CDC/NIOSH interventions described in the
BACKGROUND Section of the Program Announcement. This could include: (a)
replication/validation of CDC/NIOSH findings on work-rest schedules and
task rotation, (b) extension of these interventions to other types of
VDT and office tasks, and (c) examination of other types of work
organization interventions.
Prior studies have indicated that some types of VDT jobs may pose
higher risk for stress and work-related musculoskeletal disorders
(WRMD), particularly jobs involving highly repetitive and narrow tasks
(e.g., data entry or teleoperator tasks). Such jobs are of particular
interest for this project. Project results, in combination with NIOSH
findings, will provide the basis for recommendations regarding
effective work organization strategies for reducing WRMDs, and
improving performance in repetitive VDT work. Project results will also
improve our understanding of mechanisms mediating between work
organization variables and musculoskeletal disorders in VDT work.
Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under A.
(Recipient Activities) and CDC/NIOSH will be responsible for activities
under B. (CDC/NIOSH Activities):
A. Recipient Activities
1. Evaluate the effectiveness of work organization interventions in
reducing WRMDs and in improving productivity among VDT workers. Both
physical and psychological symptoms will be evaluated.
2. Develop a study protocol that reviews the pertinent literature
on VDT-related musculoskeletal disorders and work organization,
describes the study methodology, the data to be collected, and the
proposed analysis of the data. Present the protocol to a panel of peer
reviewers and revise the protocol as required for final approval.
3. Prepare necessary documentation for reviews and/or clearances
required by CDC/NIOSH. (Depending on what is proposed, it may be
necessary to obtain NIOSH peer review, Human Subjects Review Board, or
OMB approvals on some protocols.)
4. Perform data collection and management. Data is to include
measures of worker symptomatology and performance and can additionally
include records data on factors such as absenteeism, health care
utilization, etc. Symptomatology can include musculoskeletal
discomfort, upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders, and indicators
of negative mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, tension).
Performance indicators can include measures such as keystrokes/hour,
forms/hour, and errors.
5. Prepare a final report summarizing the study methodology,
results obtained, and conclusions reached. Develop recommendations
regarding effective work organization interventions to reduce stress,
fatigue, and WRMDs among VDT workers.
6. Report study results to the scientific community via
presentations at professional conferences and articles in peer-reviewed
journals.
B. CDC/NIOSH Activities
1. Provide scientific, epidemiologic, work organization, ergonomic,
and medical collaboration for the successful completion of this
project.
2. Identify reviews and/or clearances that must be fulfilled by the
recipient, and identify and convene a Peer Review Panel to review draft
study protocol.
3. Provide assistance in all stages of the study including study
design, survey instrument design, collection, tabulation, and analysis
of data, interpretation of the results and preparation of the written
reports.
4. Provide electromyograph (EMG) or other instrumentation and data
collection assistance in investigating physiological mechanisms in VDT
WRMDs.
[[Page 28876]]
Evaluation Criteria
The application will be reviewed and evaluated according to the
following criteria:
1. Understanding of the Problem (25%)
Responsiveness to the objective of the cooperative agreement
including: (a) applicant's understanding of the general objectives of
the proposed cooperative agreement, and (b) evidence of ability to
understand the problem and to conceive/design effective interventions.
2. Program Personnel (30%)
(a) Applicant's technical experience (e.g., in the areas of work
organization, WRMDs and office and VDT ergonomics), (b) the
qualifications (e.g., in the areas of industrial engineering,
psychology and occupational safety and health) and time allocation of
the professional staff to be assigned to this project, and, (c) the
applicant's ability to describe the approach to be used in carrying out
the responsibilities of the applicant.
3. Study Design (20%)
Steps proposed in planning and implementing this project and the
respective responsibilities of the applicant for carrying out those
steps. Also, the adequacy of the applicant's evidence of access to
study populations. The degree to which the applicant has met the CDC
policy requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and
racial groups in the proposed research. This includes:
(a) The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial
and ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
(b) The proposed justification when representation is limited or
absent.
(c) A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate
to measure differences when warranted.
(d) A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and
outreach forstudy participants include the process of establishing
partnerships with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits
will be documented.
4. Project Planning (15%)
The applicant's schedule proposed for accomplishing the activities
to be carried out in this project and for evaluating the
accomplishments.
5. Facilities and Resources (10%)
The adequacy of the applicant's facilities, equipment, and other
resources available for performance of this project.
6. Human Subjects
Whether or not exempt from the DHHS regulations, are procedures
adequate for the protection of human subjects? Recommendations on the
adequacy of protections include: (1) Protections appear adequate, and
there are no comments to make or concerns to raise, (2) protections
appear adequate, but there are comments regarding the protocol, (3)
protections appear inadequate and the Objective Review Group has
concerns related to human subjects, or, (4) disapproval of the
application is recommended because the research risks are sufficiently
serious and protection against the risks are inadequate as to make the
entire application unacceptable. (NOT SCORED)
7. Budget Justification
The budget will be evaluated to the extent that it is reasonable,
clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of funds. (NOT
SCORED)
Executive Order 12372 Review
This program is not subject to the Executive Order 12372 review.
Public Health System Reporting Requirements
This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting
Requirements.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this project
is 93.283.
Other Requirements
Paperwork Reduction Act
Projects that involve the collection of information from ten or
more individuals and funded by this cooperative agreement will be
subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Human Subjects
If the proposed project involves research on human subjects, the
applicant must comply with the Department of Health and Human Services
Regulations, 45 CFR Part 46, regarding the protection of human
subjects. Assurance must be provided to demonstrate the project will be
subject to initial and continuing review by an appropriate
institutional review committee. The applicant will be responsible for
providing assurance in accordance with the appropriate guidelines and
form provided in the application kit.
In addition to other applicable committees, Indian Health Service
(IHS) institutional review committees also must review the project if
any component of IHS will be involved or will support the research. If
any American Indian community is involved, its tribal government must
also approve that portion of the project applicable to it.
Women, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
It is the policy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
to ensure that individuals of both sexes and the various racial and
ethnic groups will be included in CDC/ATSDR-supported research projects
involving human subjects, whenever feasible and appropriate. Racial and
ethnic groups are those defined in OMB Directive No. 15 and include
American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian, Pacific Islander, Black and
Hispanic. Applicants shall ensure that women, racial and ethnic
minority populations are appropriately represented in applications for
research involving human subjects. Where clear and compelling rationale
exist that inclusion is inappropriate or not feasible, this situation
must be explained as part of the application. This policy does not
apply to research studies when the investigator cannot control the
race, ethnicity and/or sex of subjects. Further guidance to this policy
is contained in the Federal Register, Vol. 60, No. 179, pages 47947-
47951, and dated Friday, September 15, 1995.
Funding Priorities
The NIOSH program priorities, listed below, were developed by NIOSH
and its partners in the public and private sectors to provide a
framework to guide occupational safety and health research in the next
decade--not only for NIOSH but also for the entire occupational safety
and health community. Approximately 500 organizations and individuals
outside NIOSH provided input into the development of the National
Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). This attempt to guide and
coordinate research nationally is responsive to a broadly perceived
need to address systematically those topics that are most pressing and
most likely to yield gains to the worker and the nation. Fiscal
constraints on occupational safety and health research are increasing,
making even more compelling the need for a coordinated and focused
research agenda. NIOSH intends to support projects that facilitate
progress in understanding and preventing adverse effects among workers.
The conditions or examples listed under each category are selected
examples, not comprehensive definitions of the category. Investigators
may also apply in other areas related to occupational safety and
health, but the
[[Page 28877]]
rationale for the significance of the research to the field of
occupational safety and health must be presented in the grant
application.
The Agenda identifies 21 research priorities. These priorities
reflect a remarkable degree of concurrence among a large number of
stakeholders. The NORA priority research areas are grouped into three
categories: Disease and Injury, Work Environment and Workforce, and
Research Tools and Approaches. The NORA document is available through
the NIOSH Home Page; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora.html.
NORA Priority Research Areas
Disease and Injury
Allergic and Irritant Dermatitis
Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Fertility and Pregnancy Abnormalities
Hearing Loss
Infectious Diseases
Low Back Disorders
Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
Traumatic Injuries
Work Environment and Workforce
Emerging Technologies
Indoor Environment
Mixed Exposures
Organization of Work
Special Populations at Risk
Research Tools and Approaches
Cancer Research Methods
Control Technology and Personal Protective Equipment
Exposure Assessment Methods
Health Services Research
Intervention Effectiveness Research
Risk Assessment Methods
Social and Economic Consequences of Workplace Illness and Injury
Surveillance Research Methods
Application Submission and Deadline
1. Preapplication Letter of Intent
Although not a prerequisite of application, a non-binding letter of
intent-to-apply is requested from potential applicants. The letter
should be submitted to the Grants Management Branch, CDC, at the
address provided in this section. It should be postmarked no later than
June 15, 1996. The letter should identify the announcement number, name
of principal investigator, and specify the priority area to be
addressed by the proposed project. The letter of intent does not
influence review or funding decisions, but it will enable CDC to plan
the review more efficiently and will ensure that each applicant
receives timely and relevant information prior to application
submission.
The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1
(Revised 7/92, OMB Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Ron Van
Duyne, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement
and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
Mailstop E-13, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Atlanta, GA
30305, on or before July 17, 1996.
1. Deadline: Applications will be considered as meeting the
deadline if they are either:
(a) Received on or before the deadline date, or
(b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for
submission to the objective review group. (The applicants must request
a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated
receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private
metered postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
2. Late Applicants: Applications that do not meet the criteria in
1.(a) or 1.(b) above are considered late applications. Late
applications will not be considered in the current competition and will
be returned to the applicants.
Where To Obtain Additional Information
To receive additional written information call (404) 332-4561. You
will be asked to leave your name, address, and telephone number and
will need to refer to Announcement 624. You will receive a complete
program description and information on application procedures and
application forms. If you have questions after reviewing the contents
of all the documents, business management technical assistance may be
obtained from Oppie Byrd, Grants Management Specialist, Grants
Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300,
Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305, telephone (404) 842-6546; fax: (404)
842-6513; Internet: [email protected].
Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Naomi G.
Swanson, Ph.D., Chief, Motivation and Stress Research Section, Applied
Psychology and Ergonomics Branch, Division of Biomedical and Behavioral
Science, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mailstop C-24, 4676 Columbia
Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998, telephone (513) 533-8165; fax:
(513) 533-8596; Internet: [email protected].
Please refer to Announcement 624 when requesting information and
submitting an application.
There may be delays in mail delivery as well as difficulty in
reaching the CDC Atlanta offices during the 1996 Summer Olympics (July
19-August 4). Therefore, CDC suggests the following to get more timely
responses to any questions: use Internet/email, follow all instructions
in this announcement, and leave messages on the contact person's voice
mail.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full
Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Healthy People 2000 (Summary
Report, Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) referenced in the Introduction
section through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 512-1800.
Dated: May 30, 1996.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 96-14171 Filed 6-5-96; 8:45 am]
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