[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33493-33494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13968]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-03-72]


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) 498-1210.
    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

    Work-related assaults treated in hospital emergency departments 
(0920-0575)--Extension--The National Institute for Occupational Safety 
and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
Workplace violence, both fatal and non fatal, is recognized as an 
important occupational safety and health issue. Various data systems 
have provided fairly detailed information on fatal workplace violence, 
but much less is known about the circumstances and risk factors for 
non-fatal workplace violence. A number of strategies have been 
suggested for reducing the incidence and severity of workplace violence 
in various settings (e.g., taxicabs, health care, law enforcement, 
social services), but again, little empirical knowledge exists about 
what has been implemented and what impact such strategies may have. The 
report, Workplace Violence: A Report to the Nation, published by the 
University of Iowa based on recommendations from a workshop of experts 
states, ``* * * research focused on a much broader understanding of the 
scope and impact of workplace violence is urgently needed to reduce the 
human and financial burden of this significant public health problem.'' 
In 2000, there were 677 workplace homicides in the U.S. From 1993-1999, 
there were an estimated 1.7 million nonfatal victimizations ``while at 
work or on duty'' every year, accounting for 18 percent of all violent 
crime during the seven-year period. In December 2001, Congress directed 
NIOSH to ``* * * develop an intramural and extramural prevention 
research program that will target all aspects of workplace violence * * 
*''
    The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) maintains a database 
of injuries treated in a nationally-representative sample of U.S. 
hospital emergency departments (ED) called the National Electronic 
Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Data routinely collected through 
NEISS include a brief narrative description of the injury event as well 
as basic demographic information, intent and mechanism of injury, work-
relatedness, principal diagnosis, part of body affected, location where 
the injury occurred, involvement of consumer products, and disposition 
at ED discharge. For assaults, summary data are also being collected on 
the relationship of the perpetrator to the injured person and the 
context (e.g., altercation, robbery, sexual assault, etc.). For work-
related cases, occupation and industry information is collected. The 
data system does not, however, include any information on issues such 
as the specific workplace circumstances and risk factors for workplace 
violence, security measures in place in the workplace and whether they 
were utilized/worked appropriately, training in workplace violence risk 
factors and prevention strategies, previous incidents of workplace 
violence, return to work after assault, and other specific workplace 
violence information.
    For the last ten years, NIOSH has been collaborating with CPSC to 
collect surveillance data on work-related injuries treated in the NEISS 
EDs. In addition, NIOSH has utilized the capacity of NEISS to 
incorporate follow-back surveys. Follow-back surveys allow collection 
of first-hand, detailed knowledge that does not exist in administrative 
or other records. CPSC routinely uses this mechanism to collect 
information on various types of injuries (e.g., fireworks-related 
injuries, injuries to children in baby walkers, etc.). NIOSH has used 
this mechanism to collect information on the circumstances of injury, 
training, protective equipment (if appropriate), and other issues 
important to more fully understanding the risk factors for work-related 
injuries and to make appropriate recommendations for preventing other 
such injuries in the future.
    The current proposed study will consist of a telephone interview 
survey of workers treated in NEISS hospital emergency departments for 
injuries sustained during a work-related assault over a one-year 
period. CPSC will hire a contractor to conduct the actual telephone 
interviews. NIOSH will review potential cases to identify those cases 
that should be forwarded to the contractor for interview. The survey 
includes an extended narrative description of the injury incident as 
well as items regarding general workplace organization; personal 
characteristics of the worker; work tasks at the time of the assault; 
training on workplace violence risk factors and prevention strategies; 
security measures in place and how they impacted the outcome of the 
incident; medical care received for injuries; time away from work; and 
return to work after the assault. This study will provide critical 
information for understanding the nature and impact of nonfatal assault 
among U.S. workers. In combination with data collected from other 
sources, this information will ultimately contribute to the prevention 
of violence in the workplace. The only cost to respondents is their 
time in participating in the survey.

[[Page 33494]]



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                                                                  Number of     Average burden/
                   Survey                        Number of        responses/        response       Total burden
                                                respondents       respondent        (hours)          (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Work-related assaults treated in hospital              1,600                1            20/60              533
 emergency departments......................
                                             ------------------
    Total...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............             533
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    Dated: May 29, 2003.
Thomas A. Bartenfeld,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-13968 Filed 6-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P