[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3495-3496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1690]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-02-22]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404) 639-7090.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.
    Proposed Project: Anthropometric Survey of Respirator Users--NEW--
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The mission of the 
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is to promote 
safety and health at work for all people through research and 
prevention.
    The overall goal of the current project is to develop respirator 
fit-test panels that accurately represent today's workers who rely on 
respirators to prevent work-related respiratory illnesses, injuries, 
and death. The respirator fit-test panels currently used are 25-subject 
panels, developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) based on 
data from the 1967-1968 survey of U.S. Air Force men and women. The 
half-mask panel is based on face length and lip length and the full-
facepiece panel is based on face length and face width. These panels 
were established to represent the working population. The fit of 
respirators on these subject panels is assumed to be representative of 
the fit of respirators in the user populations. Respirators designed to 
fit these panels are also expected to accommodate at least 95% of the 
wearers. However, NIOSH research indicated that the LANL panel for 
full-facepiece respirators accommodated only 84% of current civilian 
subjects. Sizing data generated by the military for use in fitting 
respirators has been the normative basis for commercial respirator 
sizing. Anthropometric data developed for males of military age in the 
1950's and 1960's is still in use today. Military populations cannot 
represent the worker population because of relatively strict 
anthropometric armed forces entry requirements and height/weight 
guidelines for troop retention. Personal protective equipment designed 
and sized for a military population may not provide the same level of 
protection to civilian workers because of the greater diversity in body 
size and shape seen in civilian populations. In addition, the 
demographics of the U.S. population have changed over the last 30 
years. Thus, it is necessary to assess and refine the LANL fit-test 
panels.
    This project will first develop an anthropometric database 
detailing the face-size distributions of respirator users using both 
traditional measurement methods and three-dimensional (3-D) scanning 
systems. The source population for this study will be the nationwide 
respirator users population. The databases will then be used to 
establish respirator fit-test panels that accurately represent today's 
workers. Three-dimensional anthropometry has only been available 
recently, and there is no track record of applying scan data to 
respirators. This study will provide preliminary data on which to 
develop methods for sizing and designing respirators and protective 
eyewear using 3-D scan data.
    The subjects will be recruited from various industries in which 
workers rely on respirators to prevent work-related respiratory 
illnesses, injuries, and death (e.g., manufacturing, construction, 
mining, and health care). The project will also address emergency 
responders to chemical and biological terrorism and other crisis 
situations. Thus, subjects will also include law enforcement officers, 
firefighters, and health care workers. Height and weight plus 18 facial 
dimensions will be measured with traditional methods. A total of 4,000 
subjects will be measured using traditional methods. Of those, 1,000 
will

[[Page 3496]]

be scanned using a 3-D head scanner (Cyberware Model 3030/RGB). The 
populations will be sampled by age, race and gender. A stratified 
sampling plan is being used with equal sample size in each cell (166). 
The strata consist of: 3 age groups (18-29, 30-44, and 45-65 years), 2 
gender strata (male and female), and 4 ethnic groups (White, African 
Americans, Hispanic, and Others). The total number of cells is 24. The 
study will be conducted at five locations nationwide. Although test 
sites have yet to be determined, data collection is anticipated at two 
facilities in the western U.S., one in the central portion of the 
country, and at two locations in the east.
    Information generated by this research project will benefit:
    (1) The participants and workers exposed to various gases and 
aerosols by improving fit and function of respirators worn during work; 
and (2) those involved in testing, certifying, and manufacturing 
respirators to be used in industry, by providing them with fit-test 
panels that accurately represent today's workers. The panels can be 
used for evaluating respirator facepiece fit characteristics. The long-
term potential benefits are improved respirator quality and performance 
and increased worker protection. There are no costs to respondents.

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                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per     Total burden
                   Respondents                      respondents      responses     response  (in     in hours
                                                                    respondent        hours)
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Workers (Data Collection #1)....................            3000               1           15/60             750
Workers (Data Collection #2)....................            1000               1           20/60             333
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............            1083
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    Dated: January 15, 2002.
Nancy E. Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Program Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-1690 Filed 1-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P