[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5195-5197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1453]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-08-08AH]


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

[[Page 5196]]

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 404-639-5960 and send comments to Maryam I. 
Daneshvar, CDC Acting Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-
D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
    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. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Improving the Health and Safety of Minority Workers--New--National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    NIOSH, under Public Law 91-596, Sections 20 and 22 (Section 20-22, 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970) has the responsibility to 
conduct research relating to innovative methods, techniques, and 
approaches dealing with occupational safety and health problems.
    Occupational stress is one of the major causes of diminished health 
and productivity on the job. The continuing escalation of stress-
related medical care utilization and costs, the negative effect of job 
stress on satisfaction as well as the dysfunctional and costly effects 
of stress on job performance and employee turnover rate are some of the 
documented health, psychological and behavioral consequences of stress.
    Although racial and ethnic minority groups shoulder a 
disproportionate burden of death and disability from various stress-
related illnesses, few studies have explored factors in the workplace 
that may contribute to these disparities in health. Because of their 
general concentration in low status, low paying and/or blue-collar 
jobs, some racial and ethnic minorities may be over-exposed to 
workplace factors traditionally linked to a variety of stress-related 
problems such as a high workload coupled with a lack of control or 
authority over work. In addition, racial and ethnic minorities are 
significantly more likely than non-minorities to encounter 
discrimination and other ethnocultural stressors in the workplace, 
ranging from assimilation pressures and isolation to inequalities in 
training and advancement. Ethnocultural stressors have been linked with 
psychological distress and other problems in physical and mental 
health.
    On the other hand, occupational stress research experts suggest 
that certain workplace and other factors (e.g., co-worker and 
supervisory support, anti-discrimination policies and practices, etc.) 
may reduce stress among employees, including racial and ethnic 
minorities.
    This research will focus on: (1)Assessing the degree to which 
minorities are exposed to traditionally-studied and ethnocultural 
stressors, (2) identifying the stressors that are most predictive of 
stress-related problems (e.g., symptoms of psychological distress, 
health-impairing behaviors) in racial and ethnic minorities, (3) 
identifying organizational and other factors that afford minorities 
protection against the development of stress-related problems and (4) 
developing an occupational stress toolkit (i.e. consisting of 
information and other resources) that will better enable employers and 
community-based organizations to prevent and manage occupational stress 
in diverse workplaces and communities.
    This research will be conducted in three phases. In phase one, a 
30-minute survey will be administered by telephone to 2300 Blacks/
African Americans, White/European Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, 
American Indian/Alaska Natives, and Asian Americans. Additionally, a 
90-minute qualitative interview will be administered face-to-face to 
160 Blacks/African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American 
Indian/Alaska Natives, and Asian Americans recruited through community-
based organizations. All telephone survey and qualitative interview 
respondents will be between the ages of 18 and 65, U.S. born and/or 
reared, either currently employed or unemployed for no more than 1 
year, and living in the Chicago area. In phase two of this research, a 
15-minute web-based, key informant survey will be administered to 60 
employers (via Human Resource Representatives) and 60 community-based 
organizations (via Executive Directors) in the Chicago area. The web-
based survey is designed to assess the informational needs of these 
organizations as they relate to addressing occupational stress in 
racially and ethnically diverse workforces or communities. NIOSH will 
combine the results of this needs assessment with phase one telephone 
survey and qualitative interview findings to develop and disseminate an 
occupational stress toolkit.
    In phase three of this research, a second web-based key informant 
survey will be administered to the same 60 employers and 60 community-
based organizations six months after the occupational stress toolkit 
has been disseminated to them for review and use. The survey will 
evaluate perceptions of the toolkits' utility and how well it met the 
organizations' needs. Also, the survey will elicit suggestions for its 
improvement.
    Findings will be used to improve the toolkit and to help identify 
potential future intervention efforts to reduce occupational stress in 
racially and ethnically diverse workforces and communities. There is no 
cost to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                    Form name                        Number of     responses per   response (in    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent        hours)        (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phase I Workers Telephone Interviews............            2300               1           30/60            1150
Phase I Workers Qualitative Face-to-Face                     160               1             1.5             240
 Interviews.....................................
Phase II Employers and CBO's Web Based                       120               1           15/60              30
 Interviews.....................................
Phase III Follow-up Employers and CBO's Web                  120               1           15/60              30
 Based Interviews...............................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............            1450
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[[Page 5197]]

    Dated: January 18, 2008.
Maryam I. Daneshvar,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
 [FR Doc. E8-1453 Filed 1-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P