[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26520-26523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13196]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[ANNOUNCEMENT 648]


National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Fatality 
Surveillance and Field Investigations at the State Level Using the 
NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Model

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1996 funds for cooperative agreements 
to build State capacity for conducting traumatic occupational fatality 
surveillance, investigation, and intervention activities through the 
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fatality 
Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Model.
    The CDC is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease 
prevention objectives of Healthy People 2000, a national activity to 
reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life. This 
announcement is related to the priority areas of Occupational Safety 
and Health, and Surveillance and Data Systems. (To order a copy of 
Healthy People 2000, see the section Where to Obtain Additional 
Information.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under section 20(a) of the Occupational 
Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 669(a)) and sections 301 (42 
U.S.C. 241) and 317 (42 U.S.C. 247b) of the Public Health Service Act, 
as amended.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    The CDC strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a 
smoke-free workplace and to 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

    Eligible applicants are State Departments of Health, Departments of 
Labor, Departments of Industry, etc., located within any State or 
territory of the United States. Program activities, however, may not be 
carried out by departmental divisions that are responsible for 
enforcement of occupational safety and health standards. Awards will be 
limited to

[[Page 26521]]

those organizations that can exercise public health authority for 
intervention into occupational safety and health problems. Only one 
application per State will be accepted under this announcement. 
Stronger consideration will be given to those States or territories 
submitting applications which demonstrate coordination among relevant 
State agencies.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $600,000 will be available in FY 1996 to fund five to 
seven awards. It is expected that the awards will range from $60,000 to 
$100,000 with an average award of $80,000. Individual awards may vary 
by State, and will be based upon the scope and nature of traumatic 
occupational fatalities documented by the respondent, and upon proposed 
personnel, administrative, and associated costs. The awards will be 
made on or about September 30, 1996, with 12-month budget periods 
within project periods of up to 5 years. Funding estimates may vary and 
are subject to change.
    Continuation awards within the project period will be determined on 
the basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of funds.

Purpose

    The purpose of funding these cooperative agreements is to expand 
the State-based FACE project and significantly strengthen the 
occupational public health infrastructure. This will be accomplished by 
integrating resources for occupational safety and health research and 
public health prevention programs at the State and local levels. The 
ultimate goal of the project is to reduce traumatic occupational 
fatalities within the States. Over the past seven years, State level 
personnel have shown that the NIOSH FACE model for investigation of 
occupational fatalities can be successfully implemented in the States. 
The most immediate products of the State level FACE programs have been 
accurate and timely surveillance systems for detecting traumatic 
occupational fatalities occurring within the State, fatality 
investigations identifying causal factors, and recommendations for 
prevention strategies. This program will permit awardees to efficiently 
integrate resources for prevention of occupational fatalities at the 
State and local level. Additionally, States will be encouraged to 
target occupational traumatic injury research and prevention programs 
based on specific State priority areas. FACE data will be shared with 
all award recipients. The specific objectives for this cooperative 
agreement are as follows:
    1. Develop a timely, comprehensive, multiple source State level 
surveillance system for identifying and recording basic epidemiologic 
data on all traumatic occupational fatalities occurring within the 
State.
    2. Conduct on-site investigations of specific traumatic 
occupational fatalities using the NIOSH FACE investigative model.
    3. Through case investigations, identify factors common to selected 
types of traumatic occupational fatalities, leading to development and 
prioritization of prevention strategies.
    4. Develop and disseminate prevention recommendations to reduce the 
risk of fatal occupational injuries within the State.
    5. Develop and implement prevention strategies and projects for 
reducing State incidence of traumatic occupational injuries and 
fatalities.

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 the activities under 
B. (CDC/NIOSH Activities).

A. Recipient Activities

    1. Develop a comprehensive multiple-source, State-level 
surveillance system for prompt identification and reporting of 
epidemiologic data on all traumatic occupational fatalities occurring 
in the State.
    2. Conduct in-depth site investigations of targeted occupational 
fatalities as determined by NIOSH. Currently, falls from elevations and 
machinery-related incidents are targeted fatality types. These are 
among the leading causes of work-place fatalities, as identified by 
national surveillance systems; however, they may change over the term 
of the agreement. Greatest emphasis must be placed on the determined 
targets; however, States may choose, in cooperation with NIOSH, to 
conduct in-depth investigations of other fatality types identified.
    3. In specified format, develop and submit to NIOSH a narrative 
report of each in-depth fatality investigation which describes the 
fatal incident and includes recommendations for preventing future 
similar occurrences.
    4. Submit first reports of fatalities, investigative narrative 
reports, and supplementary investigative data electronically to NIOSH 
through CDC's WONDER/PC system.
    5. Evaluate surveillance data and investigative findings to 
identify specific worker populations to which prevention programs 
should be addressed.1
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     1 A Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Disease and 
Injury Prevention. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), 
March 27, 1992/Vol.41/Jn. The MMWR can be accessed through CDC's 
DocView, World-Wide Web (http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/mmwr.html).
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    6. Identify entities such as employers, unions, and trade 
associations that can effect change in the workplace.
    7. Communicate recommended preventions to those who can affect 
change in the workplace and to those at risk through targeted 
dissemination.
    8. Prepare and submit periodic status reports of activities in 
designated format and an annual report that summarizes the activities 
and progress made by the State toward meeting the objectives for the 
State FACE program.
    9. Participate in annual NIOSH-conducted FACE project workshop/
conference in Morgantown, West Virginia, or other selected site.

B. CDC/NIOSH Activities

    1. Provide formats for data reporting forms, coding formats, 
computer software, and State personnel training for electronic 
transmission of FACE surveillance and investigative data to the NIOSH 
data base.
    2. Provide assistance to awardee staff in establishing traumatic 
occupational fatality notification networks.
    3. Provide initial training in procedures and subsequent technical 
assistance for conducting on-site fatality investigations using the 
FACE investigative methodology (including the use of FACE investigative 
data collection instruments).
    4. Provide assistance in identifying sentinel events resulting from 
industrial applications of new and emerging technologies.
    5. Provide technical assistance in the dissemination of summary 
reports and other published findings to State and local health and 
labor officials, voluntary health groups, workers, unions, employers 
and professional organizations.
    6. Provide technical assistance in identifying and evaluating 
effective intervention strategies.
    7. CDC will provide funds to purchase one IBM-compatible, Pentium-
based personal computer, printer, telecommunications equipment, and 
needed software for use on appropriate activities related to this 
cooperative agreement, if necessary.

[[Page 26522]]

Evaluation Criteria

    Evaluation of the applications will be based on the following 
criteria:
    1. Ability to communicate the scope and nature of traumatic 
occupational fatalities in the State as evidenced by the quality of the 
narrative and documented research and experience. (10%)
    2. The qualifications and time commitment of proposed project staff 
(principal investigator, field investigator (if already identified), 
administrative and technical support staff). (30%--Total)
    a. The existence of or potential for acquiring expertise in 
investigation of occupational fatalities. There should be a full-time 
field investigator dedicated to the project. (15%)
    b. The existence of or potential for acquiring safety expertise 
relevant to formulation of injury prevention strategies. (15%)
    3. Applicant's collaborative relationships with various relevant 
State or territorial agencies or organizations in addressing the 
problem of traumatic occupational fatality surveillance, investigation, 
and intervention. (30%--Total)
    a. The existence of or potential for establishment of a multiple-
source network for identification and reporting of traumatic 
occupational fatalities. (15%)
    b. The existence of or potential for establishment of relationships 
with public safety departments, safety compliance agencies, and other 
entities that can provide background and supplementary data relating to 
specific fatality cases. (15%)
    4. Demonstrated ability to communicate recommended preventions to 
those at risk through targeted dissemination. (25%)
    5. Additional personnel/facilities/equipment already in place that 
can contribute to successful implementation of the project. (5%)
    6. Human Subjects. (Not Scored)
    Whether or not exempt from the DHHS regulations, are procedures 
adequate for 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.
    7. Budget Justification. (Not Scored)
    The budget will be evaluated to the extent that it is reasonable, 
clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of funds.

Executive Order 12372 Review

    Applications are subject to the Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs as governed by Executive Order (E.O.) 12372. E.O. 12372 sets 
up a system for State and local government review of proposed Federal 
assistance applications. Applicants (other than federally recognized 
Indian tribal governments) should contact their State Single Point of 
Contact (SPOC) as early as possible to alert them to the prospective 
applications and receive any necessary instructions on the State 
process. Indian tribes are strongly encouraged to request tribal 
government review of the proposed application. For proposed projects 
serving more than one State, the applicant is advised to contact the 
SPOC for each affected State. A current list of SPOCs is included in 
the application kit.
    If SPOCs or tribal governments have any State process 
recommendations on applications submitted to CDC, they should forward 
them to Ron Van Duyne, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), Room 300, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 
30305, no later than 60 days after the application deadline date. The 
granting agency does not guarantee to ``accommodate or explain'' State 
or tribal process recommendations it receives after that date.

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 for this program is 
93.283.

Application Submission and Deadline

    The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1 (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 11, 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 Applications: 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 648. You will receive a complete 
program description and information on application procedures and 
forms.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from Oppie M. Byrd, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), Mailstop E-13, Room 300, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, 
NE., Atlanta, GA 30305, telephone (404) 842-6546, Internet: 
[email protected].
    Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Ted A. 
Pettit, State FACE Project Officer, Chief, Trauma Investigations 
Section, Surveillance and Field Investigations Branch, NIOSH/Division 
of Safety Research, Mailstop 180P, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 
26505-2888, telephone (304) 285-5972, Internet: [email protected], 
or Dr. Nancy Stout, Acting Chief, Surveillance and Field Investigations 
Branch, NIOSH/Division of Safety Research, Mailstop 180P, 1095 
Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505-2888, telephone (304) 285-5916.
    Please refer to Announcement Number 648 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,

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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 
through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, 
Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 512-1800.

    Dated: May 17, 1996.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 96-13196 Filed 5-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P