[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5023-5024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2277]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30DAY-22-03]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call 
the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 498-1210. Send written 
comments to CDC, Desk Officer, Human Resources and Housing Branch, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503. Written 
comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.
    Proposed Project: Evaluating Toolbox Training Safety Program for 
Construction and Mining (OMB No. 0920-0535)--Extension--National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) proposes to evaluate the 
effectiveness of various educational approaches utilizing ``toolbox'' 
safety training materials targeted to construction and mining 
industries. 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.
    In comparison to other industries, construction and mining, workers 
continue to have the highest rates of occupational fatalities and 
injuries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated for 1999 that while 
the construction industry comprises only 6% of the workforce, they 
account for 20% of the fatal occupational injuries across all industry 
types (BLS, 1999). Similarly, though the mining industry comprises less 
than .5% of the workforce, this industry reflects 2% of all fatal 
occupational injuries (BLS, 1999).
    Research on the effectiveness of safety and health training 
programs has revealed that training can lead to increases in worker 
knowledge and awareness of workplace safety practices. However, fewer 
evaluations of safety training effectiveness have investigated the 
relationship between various instructional approaches and the actual 
transfer of safety training information into workplace practices. 
Preliminary input from employees, managers, and union leaders 
representing construction and mining concerns revealed a desire in 
these industries for affordable safety training materials that can be 
effectively administered in short sessions on the job.
    Representatives from these industries reported that safety training 
sessions need to establish a closer connection between the safety 
recommendations and the background experiences and knowledge of the 
workers. An instructional approach that may address these needs is 
often called ``toolbox'' or ``tailgate'' training. This type of 
training is characterized by brief (15 minute) workplace safety 
lessons. Despite the popularity of toolbox safety talks, research is 
needed to identify the most effective format for this medium. NIOSH 
will investigate the impact of using a narrative, case-study 
instructional approach versus a more typical, didactic ``learn the 
facts'' approach. Comparative analyses will examine differences in 
knowledge gain, safety attitudes and beliefs, and workplace behaviors. 
Findings from this research will help identify the conditions critical 
to effective toolbox safety training for mining and construction. The 
materials developed and evaluated during this

[[Page 5024]]

study will be made available to the public at the conclusion of the 
evaluation.
    Construction and mining companies who participate in the study will 
be randomly assigned to receive eight weekly toolbox safety training 
sessions that use either a case-study narrative or conventional 
instructional approach. The training sessions are designed to last 
fifteen minutes. The impact of these materials will be evaluated 
through the examination of changes in employee knowledge gains, 
attitudes toward safety practices, and the use of safety behaviors 
prior to and following their participation in the safety training 
program. Trainers will complete brief response cards each week. A 
sample of trainers will participate in structured interviews. Findings 
of the study will be reported to participants and in the literature. 
The total annual burden for this data collection is 233 hours.

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                                                                                     Number of    Average burden/
                           Respondents                               Number of      responses/     response (in
                                                                    respondents     respondent        hours)
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Worker Pre-training Survey (attitude survey)....................             412               1           15/60
Worker Post-training Survey (attitude survey)...................             412               1           15/60
Instructor Feedback Cards.......................................              41               8            5/60
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    Dated: January 27, 2003.
Thomas Bartenfeld,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-2277 Filed 1-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P