[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22138-22139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9691]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30 Day-10-09AX]


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) 639-5960 or send an e-mail 
to [email protected]. Send written comments to CDC Desk Officer, Office of 
Management and Budget, Washington, DC or by fax to (202) 395-5806. 
Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    National Survey of U.S. Long-Haul Truck Driver Injury and Health--
New--National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health (NIOSH) is to promote safety and health at work for all people 
through research and prevention. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970, Public Law 91-596 (Section 20[a][1]) authorizes NIOSH to 
conduct research to advance the health and safety of workers. In this 
capacity, NIOSH will conduct a national survey of long-haul truck 
drivers.
    Truck drivers are at increased risk for numerous preventable 
diseases and health conditions; previous research suggests that truck 
drivers are at increased risk for lower back pain, heart disease, 
hypertension, stomach ulcers, and cancers of the bladder, lung, 
prostate, and stomach. Truck drivers also face extraordinary risk of 
on-the-job mortality. In 2007, the fatality rate for ``driver/sales 
workers and truck drivers'' was 28.2 per 100,000 workers, compared with 
a rate of 3.8 per 100,000 for all workers. Drivers of heavy and 
tractor-trailer trucks had more fatal work injuries than any other 
single occupation (822 deaths in 2007).
    Truck drivers experience high rates of occupational injury and 
illness, but little is known about the prevalence of factors suspected 
to place them at increased risk. Information is needed on the role of 
occupation in driver health and on mechanisms of driver injuries. In 
evaluating the potential health effects of the 2005 hours-of-service 
ruling, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration stated that due 
to a lack of evidence specific to trucking operations, information from 
different fields had to be adapted to a trucking environment. Research 
needs cited by stakeholders include detailed data on the prevalence of 
selected health conditions and risk factors among truck drivers, and 
data on working conditions, injury causes and outcomes, and health 
behaviors.
    NIOSH has obtained input on plans for this survey through 
stakeholder meetings, a webinar, an Internet blog, and from comments 
received through NIOSH Docket 110 and during a focus group discussion 
with 7 truck drivers. The survey instrument has been reviewed by 6 
subject matter experts and 9 cognitive interviews have been conducted 
using the survey instrument. Input received was used to guide 
development of the survey instrument and plans for survey 
implementation. Subjective data on understanding and phrasing of 
questions were collected during the focus group discussion and 
cognitive interviews.
    The proposed national survey will be based upon a probability 
sample of truck stops. The survey will be conducted at locations along 
freight corridors in 5 geographic regions (Northeast, South, Great 
Lakes, Central, and West). The number of locations to be visited within 
each region will be related to the traffic load in that region. 
Eligible truck drivers stopping at selected truck stops will provide 
all survey data. The major objectives of the survey will be to: (1) 
Determine the prevalence of selected health conditions and risk 
factors; (2) characterize drivers' working conditions, occupational 
injuries, and health behaviors; (3) explore the associations among 
health status, individual risk factors, occupational injuries and 
occupational exposures related to work organization. The survey will 
eliminate significant gaps in occupational safety and health data for 
long-haul truck drivers. The results will assist regulatory agencies in 
focusing rulemaking, furnish industry and labor with safety and health 
information needed by their constituents, and stimulate future research 
and advocacy to benefit truck drivers.
    The target population of drivers for this survey will be limited to 
drivers who: Have truck driving as their main job; drive a truck with 3 
or more axles (requiring the driver to have a commercial driver's 
license); have been a heavy truck driver 12 months or longer; and who 
usually take at least one mandatory 10-hour rest period away from home 
during each delivery run.
    The study instrument will be interviewer-administered to 2,457 
eligible truck drivers at 50 truck stops. Individuals will first be 
asked a series of questions to determine if they are eligible to 
participate in the survey, followed by administration of the main 
interview. Individuals who do not wish to participate in the main 
interview will be given a short non-respondent interview. Respondents 
will not be asked to report names or any other identifying information.
    The project supports the NIOSH surveillance function to advance the 
usefulness of surveillance information for the prevention of 
occupational injuries, illnesses, and hazards, and actively promote the 
dissemination and use of NIOSH surveillance data and information. This 
survey will allow NIOSH to explore the inter-relationships among 
dimensions of health status, individual risk factors, occupational 
injuries, sleep disorders, and occupational exposures. It will also 
provide detailed demographic data on long-haul truck drivers, which 
have not

[[Page 22139]]

been available previously, and could provide baseline data to inform 
future cohort and prospective studies.
    NIOSH will use the information to calculate prevalence and 
customize safety and health interventions for long-haul truck drivers. 
Once the study is completed, results will be made available via various 
means. There is no cost to respondents other than their time.
    The total estimated annualized burden to respondents is 2,028 
hours.

                                        Annualized Estimated Burden Hours
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                                                                                         Number of     Average
                                                                            Number of    responses    burden per
            Type of respondent                        Form name            respondents      per        response
                                                                                         respondent   (in hours)
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Truck Drivers.............................  Screening Interview..........        2,457            1         1/60
                                            Non-respondent Interview.....          615            1         2/60
                                            Main Interview...............        2,457            1        48/60
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    Dated: April 21, 2010.
Maryam I. Daneshvar,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2010-9691 Filed 4-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P