[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 12 (Thursday, January 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1253-1254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-564]



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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 1253]]


DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Announces the 
Following Meetings

    Name: Setting a National Occupational Research Agenda: 
Occupational Safety and Health Community Working Group Meeting.
    Time and Date: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., January 24, 1996.
    Place: The Latham Hotel, Presidential Ballroom, 3000 M Street, 
NW, Washington, DC 20007.
    Status: Open to the public, limited only by the space available.

    Name: Setting a National Occupational Research Agenda: Health 
Professional Working Group Meeting.
    Time and Date: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., January 30, 1996.
    Place: Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street, NW, Washington, 
DC 20008.
    Status: Open to the public, limited only by the space available.
    Purpose: NIOSH will sponsor two meetings of groups with 
different expertise to assist in the development of a national 
agenda for occupational safety and health research for the next 
decade. At each meeting, invited participants will discuss and 
contribute their perspectives in work sessions open to the public. A 
limited amount of time will be reserved to provide members of the 
public attending these work group meetings the opportunity to 
comment.
    The tentative agenda of the meetings will include: Discussion of 
the process being used to develop the list of research priorities 
and the agenda and evaluation of the list of research priorities 
included in this announcement for potential inclusion into the 
national occupational research agenda. Research priorities for 
consideration include health effects, hazardous exposures, work 
environments, industries, occupations, and populations associated 
with significant occupational disease, injury, disability, 
fatalities, or topics of growing importance in the future.
    Matters to be Discussed: As the lead federal health agency for 
research into the causes and prevention of work injuries and 
diseases, NIOSH has a responsibility to continually assess the state 
of existing knowledge and define future research needs and 
priorities. The development of a national research agenda will 
assist NIOSH and the occupational safety and health research 
community in establishing priorities and targeting some of the 
scientific needs of the next decade that offer the greatest 
potential for advancing the safety and health of workers. 
Establishing these priorities is especially important in light of 
increasing fiscal constraints on occupational safety and health 
research in both the public and private sectors. The agenda is 
intended to serve decision-makers and scientists working throughout 
the field, employed in government, corporate, labor, university, and 
private research programs for planning and implementing occupational 
health research and prevention activities.
    Prior to the public meetings, together with external experts, 
NIOSH developed a discussion list of approximately 50 potential 
research priorities for the national occupational research agenda. 
The discussion list has been expanded with input received through 
written comments and oral presentations given at a public meeting on 
November 30, 1995, and at a working group meeting of researchers 
held on December 12, 1995. The expanded list of potential research 
priorities are:

Health Response

      Traumatic Injury

--Amputation injuries
--Eye Injury
--Electrocutions
--Falls
--Inhalation Injury

      Musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, shoulder & 
other upper extremities
      Musculoskeletal disorders of the low back
      Fertility and pregnancy outcomes
      Occupational Asthma
      Pneumoconioses
      Hypersensitivity Lung Disease
      Occupational Chronic Diseases (Selected)

--Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
--Chronic Renal Disease
--Ischemic Heart Disease
--Neurodegenerative Disease (Cognitive & Movement Disorders)
--Anxiety and Depression

      Psychological disorders other than Anxiety and 
Depression
      Occupational Infectious Diseases
      Immune Dysfunction
      Neuroimmune Function
      Hearing Loss due to noise and nonauditory exposures
      Occupational Dermatitis
      Premature Disability
      Latex allergy
      Chemical Mixtures (Including Hazardous Waste)
      Pesticides
      Solvents
      Oils their Substitutes and Related derivatives (e.g., 
Cutting Fluids, Diesel)
      Indoor Environment
      Thermal stresses
      Mineral and Synthetic Fibers
      Silica
      Metals and Related Compounds
      Hormonally Active Substances
      Violence/Assaults
      Motor Vehicles
      Heavy Machinery (including Farm equipment)
      Hand Tools
      Biomechanical Stressors (including manual material 
handling)
      Noise
      Electric and Magnetic Fields
      Behavioral Risk Factors
      Falling objects
      Lead
      Pharmaceuticals (manufacture and administration)
     Robots
     Interactions

Work Environment and the Workforce

     Work Organization

--Extended work shift
--Shift work

     Changing Economy and Workforce
     Emerging Technologies and Problems
     Vulnerable Populations

--aging workforce
--child labor (including adolescents)
--home work
--migrant workers
--temporary/contingent workforce
--minorities

     Psychosocial factors
     Costs of occupational disease and injury (economic and 
social)
     Social inequality & health
     Environmental justice
     Occupational health/occupational disease & injury costs 
and benefits of prevention

Research Process

     Intervention Research
     Effectiveness Research (e.g. training)
     Economic Analysis: Cost benefit and workers' 
compensation
     International Occupational Health Research
     Clinical Methods Research

--Develop methods for occupational disease and practice guidelines

     Engineering and Technological Solutions
     Exposure Assessment Methods Development
     Hazard Surveillance
     Disease Surveillance
     Injury Surveillance
    
[[Page 1254]]

     Risk Assessment Methods Development
     Identification of Molecular Correlates of Cancer and 
other Chronic Diseases
     Health Services Research (in a changing health care & 
workplace environment)
     Respirator research & other personal protective 
equipment research
     Information dissemination & Health communication
     Community & region-based studies
     Strategies for worker/employer empowerment
     Barriers to implementation of prevention efforts
     Sector focussed research

Sector

     Construction
     Agriculture
     Small Businesses
     Service workers
     Health Care
     Mining
     Transportation
     Hotel/restaurant workers
    From this list and additional items that are recommended, NIOSH 
anticipates producing a final agenda of 15-25 of the highest 
scientific priorities for research to advance safety and health.
    NIOSH is seeking public comment until March 6, 1996, to assure 
that the final agenda includes input from the broadest base of 
occupational safety and health expertise. In addition to the two 
working group meetings described in this announcement and the 
working group meeting held on December 12, 1995, the process for 
receipt of public comment includes the following elements: (1) 
Corporate and worker liaison committees and a broader-based 
stakeholders outreach committee will assist NIOSH in obtaining 
involvement and input from employers, employees, health officials, 
health professionals, scientists, and public health, advocacy, 
scientific, industry and labor organizations; (2) A public meeting 
was held on November 30, 1995, to obtain early input on the research 
priorities, criteria for selection of priorities, and the process 
for developing the agenda; (3) Regional public meetings will be held 
in Chicago, Boston and Seattle to increase the opportunities for 
input from employers, employees, scientists, and other public 
stakeholders across the United States; (4) A final public meeting 
will be held on March 1, 1996, in Washington, DC, to present a draft 
research agenda and provide the opportunity for public review and 
comment; and (5) Public input throughout the process; the public is 
encouraged to provide oral comments at the public meetings, and 
written comments as soon as possible. The last date for submission 
of public comments is close of business, March 6, 1996.
    The final agenda will be presented at a scientific symposium 
commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and 
Health Act on April 29, 1996.
    NIOSH encourages the public to provide recommendations on 
research priorities, criteria for determining priorities, and the 
process of developing the research agenda throughout the process. To 
attend these meetings, or to receive additional information, please 
contact Mr. Chris Olenec as indicated below. On-site registration 
will be available; however, to assist in planning for the meeting, 
advance registration is requested.

ADDRESSES: Written public comments on the National Occupational 
Research Agenda should be mailed to Ms. Diane Manning, NIOSH, CDC, 
Robert A. Taft Laboratories, M/S C34, 4676 Columbia Parkway, 
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.

CONTACT PERSON FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Mr. Chris Olenec, NIOSH, 
CDC, 200 Independence Avenue, room 317B, Washington, DC 20201, 
telephone 202/205-2640 or by FAX 202/260-1898.

    Dated: January 12, 1996.
Nancy C. Hirsch,
Acting Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 96-564 Filed 1-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-M