[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7234-7237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3909]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement Number 722]


Intervention Studies for Construction Safety and Health; 
Availability of Funds for Fiscal Year 1997

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), announces that 
applications are being accepted for intervention projects relating to 
occupational safety and health in the construction industry. Such 
projects are intended to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of 
methods or approaches for preventing illnesses and injuries among 
construction workers. Thus, this announcement is not intended for 
traditional hypothesis-testing research projects to identify and 
investigate the relationships between health outcomes and occupational 
exposures to hazardous agents.
    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 area of ``Occupational Safety 
and Health.'' (For ordering a copy of ``Healthy People 2000,'' see the 
section

[[Page 7235]]

WHERE TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under the Public Health Service Act, as 
amended, Section 301(a) (42 U.S.C. 241(a)) and the Occupational Safety 
and Health Act of 1970, Section 20(a) (29 U.S.C. 669(a)). The 
applicable program regulation is 42 CFR part 52.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include non-profit and for-profit 
organizations, universities, colleges, research institutions, and other 
public and private organizations, including State and local governments 
and small, minority and/or woman-owned businesses.

    Note: An organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which engages in lobbying activities 
shall not be eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an 
award, grant, contract, loan, or any other form.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    CDC strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-
free workplace and promote the non-use 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.

Avalibility of Funds

    About $500,000 is available in fiscal year (FY) 1997 to fund 
approximately 3 project grants. The amount of funding available may 
vary and is subject to change. Awards are anticipated to range from 
$150,000 to $200,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) per year. 
Awards are expected to begin on or about September 30, 1997. Awards 
will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period not 
to exceed 3 years. Continuation awards within the project period will 
be made on the basis of satisfactory progress and availability of 
funds.

Background

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported five million employees in 
the construction sector in 1994 (Undercounting in this sector may be 
significant because of self-employment). The construction industry is 
considered one of the most hazardous industries in the nation. For 
example, there were only 3.3 deaths per 100,000 construction workers in 
the Netherlands in 1992 compared to 14 deaths per 100,000 construction 
workers in the United States. More fatalities occur in the construction 
industry than in any other industry. The construction industry also 
experiences a higher incidence rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses 
than workers in other industries. These injuries and illnesses can also 
contribute to project delays and lost productivity.
    Some construction groups are able to achieve substantially lower 
injury rates than the national average, which may be the result of 
interventions that are not widely known. The lost-time injury rate of 
the National Constructors Association, which consists of several large 
construction contractors in the United States, was less than 1 per 100 
full-time workers in 1993 compared to the national average in 
construction of 5.1 per 100 full-time workers in 1993. In addition, the 
average lost-time injury rate from 1988 to 1994 for Army Corps of 
Engineers construction projects was also less than 1 per 100 full-time 
workers. The average workers' compensation insurance premiums for all 
workplaces are 2.4% of payrolls. In contrast, workers' compensation 
insurance premiums in construction workplaces range upwards to over 
100% of payrolls such as in very hazardous iron work at high 
elevations. All of these problems are influenced by the complexity of 
the construction work place: Multiemployer work sites, a mobile 
workforce (multiple employers each year), a continually changing work 
site for each worker in both location and the kind of work, episodic 
and potentially high exposures, and work in inclement weather.
    For the purposes of this announcement, NIOSH has placed a priority 
on intervention and control technology research in the construction 
industry. NIOSH is encouraging intervention research to assess the 
effectiveness of policies, regulations, education and training, 
government and private outreach programs, and new technology in 
preventing disease and injury. Control technology research, a form of 
intervention research, seeks to prevent work-related diseases and 
injuries by designing, implementing, and evaluating measures to reduce 
occupational hazards at their source. In reviewing its National Program 
for Occupational Safety and Health in Construction, NIOSH has found 
that solutions to problems often exist (tools, technology, and best 
safety practices), but they are not adopted at the work place. 
Effective interventions can lead to reduced injury and death rates.

Purpose

    NIOSH seeks to prevent work-related diseases and injuries in the 
construction industry by designing, implementing, and evaluating 
measures to reduce occupational hazards. If prevention measures are not 
currently available, new technologies should be developed for 
controlling hazardous exposures. Such new technologies must be 
evaluated to determine that the prevention measures are feasible, even 
for smaller businesses. Intervention research, of which control 
technology is a part, examines the utility and impact of new and 
existing preventive measures in the workplace.

Programmatic Interest

    The focus of these grants is to facilitate progress in preventing 
adverse effects among construction workers. A project that is proposed 
to develop or test the efficacy of an intervention should be designed 
to establish, discover, develop, elucidate, or confirm information 
relating to occupational safety and health, including innovative 
methods, techniques, and approaches for solving occupational safety and 
health problems. A project that is proposed to demonstrate the 
effectiveness of an intervention should address, either on a pilot or 
full-scale basis, the technical or economic feasibility of implementing 
a new/improved innovative procedure, method, technique, or system for 
preventing occupational safety or health problems. A demonstration 
project should be conducted in an actual workplace where a baseline 
measure of the occupational problem will be defined, the new/improved 
approach will be implemented, a follow-up measure of the problem will 
be documented, and an evaluation of the benefits will be conducted.
    The overall NIOSH program priorities, including those related to 
the construction industry, were developed by NIOSH with input from 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

[[Page 7236]]

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 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.
    Consistent with NORA, the following are high priority directions 
for research under this announcement. Investigators may also apply in 
other areas related to construction safety and health, but the 
rationale for the significance of the research and demonstrations to 
construction must be developed in the application.
    1. Understand how economic issues impact the acceptance of best 
safety practices.
    2. Understand the aspects of changing the safety culture in 
organizations, including residential and other small contractors.
    3. Improve the health and safety aspects of construction tools and 
of general technology development/utilization.
    4. Identify effective ways to obtain information and conduct 
research on non-union workers and contractors.
    5. Identify training techniques that are effective in causing safe 
work practices to be adopted.
    6. Investigate mechanisms that lead to nongovernmental support/
funding for regional training and safety and health services.
    7. Investigate new concepts for job-site improvement (such as 
scheduling of deliveries, material location and transport in vehicular 
worker traffic patterns, etc.).
    8. Identify causes of dramatic differences in regional injury rates 
for both small and large firms, as well as union and non-union 
operations.
    9. Select focus areas that will be of perceived immediate benefit 
to the customers. (Based upon achievable benchmarks in construction 
safety and health, the NIOSH program priorities applicable to this 
Program Announcement are to reduce construction-related deaths, lost-
time injuries and illnesses, back injuries, eye injuries, skin 
disorders or diseases, lead poisonings, hearing loss, silicosis, and 
asbestosis.)
    Potential applicants with questions concerning the acceptability of 
their proposed work are strongly encouraged to contact the programmatic 
technical assistance contact listed in this announcement in the section 
WHERE TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Reporting Requirements

    Progress reports are required annually as part of the continuation 
application (75 days prior to the start of the next budget period). The 
annual progress reports must contain information on accomplishments 
during the previous budget period and plans for each remaining year of 
the project. Financial status reports (FSR) are required no later than 
90 days after the end of the budget period. The final performance and 
financial status reports are required 90 days after the end of the 
project period. The final performance report should include, at a 
minimum, a statement of original objectives, a summary of research 
methodology, a summary of positive and negative findings, and a list of 
publications resulting from the project. Research papers, project 
reports, or theses are acceptable items to include in the final report. 
The final report should stand alone rather than citing the original 
application. Three copies of reprints of publications prepared under 
the grant should accompany the report.

Evaluation Criteria

    Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by CDC for completeness 
and responsiveness. Applications determined to be incomplete or 
unresponsive to this announcement will be returned to the applicant 
without further consideration. If the proposed project involves 
organizations or persons other than those affiliated with the applicant 
organization, letters of support and/or cooperation must be included.
    Applications that are complete and responsive to the announcement 
will be reviewed by an initial review group in which applications will 
be determined to be competitive or non-competitive based on their 
technical merit relative to other applications received. Applications 
determined to be non-competitive will be withdrawn from further 
consideration and the principal investigator/program director and the 
official signing for the applicant organization will be promptly 
notified. Applications judged to be competitive will be discussed and 
assigned a priority score.
    Review criteria for technical merit are as follows:
    1. Technical significance and originality of proposed project.
    2. Appropriateness and adequacy of the study design and methodology 
proposed to carry out the project.
    3. Qualifications and research experience of the Principal 
Investigator and staff, particularly but not exclusively in the area of 
the proposed project.
    4. Availability of resources necessary to perform the project.
    5. Documentation of cooperation from industry, unions, or other 
participants in the project, where applicable.
    6. Adequacy of plans to include both sexes and minorities and their 
subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the project (Plans 
for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated.).
    7. Appropriateness of budget and period of support.
    8. Human Subjects--Procedures adequate for the protection of human 
subjects must be documented. 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 (ORG) 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.
    Secondary review criteria for programmatic importance are as 
follows:
    1. Results of the initial review.
    2. Magnitude of the problem in terms of numbers of workers 
affected.
    3. Severity of the disease or injury in the worker population.
    4. Usefulness to applied technical knowledge in the evaluation, or 
control of construction safety and health hazards.
    5. Degree to which the project can be expected to yield or 
demonstrate results that will be useful on a national or regional 
basis.
    Applicants will compete for available funds with all other approved 
applications. The following will be considered in making funding 
decisions:
    1. Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review.
    2. Availability of funds.
    3. Program balance among priority areas of the announcement.

[[Page 7237]]

Executive Order 12372 Review

    Applications are not subject to the review requirements of 
Executive Order 12372, entitled Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.

Public Health System Reporting Requirement

    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 is 93.262.

Other Requirements

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. Assurances must be provided to demonstrate that 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.

Women and Racial and Ethnic Minorities

    It is the policy of the CDC to ensure that women and racial and 
ethnic groups will be included in CDC 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 and racial and ethnic 
minority populations are appropriately represented in applications for 
research involving human subjects. Where clear and compelling rationale 
exist that inclusion is not feasible, this situation must be explained 
as part of the application. In conducting the review of applications 
for scientific merit, review groups will evaluate proposed plans for 
inclusion of minorities and both sexes as part of the scientific 
assessment and assigned score. 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, Friday, September 15, 1995, pages 
47947-47951.

Application Submission and Deadlines

A. 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 Officer (whose address is 
reflected in section B, ``Applications''). It should be postmarked no 
later than March 14, 1997. 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.

B. Applications

    Applicants should use Form PHS-398 (OMB Number 0925-0001) and 
adhere to the ERRATA Instruction Sheet for Form PHS-398 contained in 
the grant application kit. Please submit an original and five copies on 
or before May 14, 1997 to: Ron Van Duyne, Grants Management Officer, 
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., 
Room 321, MS-E13, Atlanta, GA 30305.

C. Deadlines

    1. Applications shall be considered as meeting a deadline if they 
are either:
    A. Received at the above address on or before the deadline date, or
    B. Sent on or before the deadline date to the above address, and 
received in time for the review process. Applicants should 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 shall not be accepted as proof of timely mailings.
    2. Applications which do not meet the criteria above are considered 
late applications and will be returned to the applicant.

Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To receive additional written information call (404) 332-4561. You 
will be asked your name, address, and telephone number and will need to 
refer to Announcement 722. You will receive a complete program 
description, information on application procedures, and application 
forms. In addition, this announcement is also available through the CDC 
Home Page on the Internet. The address for the CDC Home Page is http://
www.cdc.gov. If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all 
the documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from Georgia Jang, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., MS-E13, Atlanta, GA 
30305, telephone (404) 842-6796; fax: 404-842-6513; internet: 
[email protected]. Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from 
Roy M. Fleming, Sc.D., Associate Director for Grants, National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Building 1, Room 
3053, MS-D30, Atlanta, GA 30333, telephone 404-639-3343; fax: 404-639-
4616; internet: [email protected].

Please Refer to Announcement Number 722 When Requesting Information 
and Submitting an Application.

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

    Dated: February 11, 1997.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 97-3909 Filed 2-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P