[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40889-40890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16911]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-12-12PE]


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 404-639-7570 
and send comments to Kimberly S. Lane, at CDC 1600 Clifton Road, MS-
D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an email 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

    Interventions to Reduce Shoulder MSDs in Overhead Assembly--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. Under Public Law 91- 596, sections 20 
and 22 (Section 20-22, Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970), 
NIOSH has the responsibility to conduct research to advance the health 
and safety of workers. In this capacity, NIOSH proposes to conduct a 
study to assess the effectiveness and cost-benefit of occupational 
safety and health (OSH) interventions to prevent musculoskeletal 
disorders (MSDs) among workers in the Manufacturing (MNF) sector.
    Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent a major proportion of 
injury/illness incidence and cost in the U.S. Manufacturing (MNF) 
sector. In 2008, 29% of non-fatal injuries and illnesses involving days 
away from work (DAW) in the MNF sector involved MSDs and the MNF sector 
had some of the highest rates of MSD DAW cases. The rate for the motor 
vehicle manufacturing sub-sector (NAICS 3361) was among the highest of 
MNF sub sectors, with MSD DAW rates that were higher than the general 
manufacturing MSD DAW rates from 2003-2007. In automotive 
manufacturing, overhead conveyance of the vehicle chassis requires 
assembly line employees to use tools in working postures with the arms 
elevated. These postures are believed to be associated with symptoms of 
upper limb discomfort, fatigue, and impingement syndromes (Fischer et 
al., 2007). Overhead working posture, independent of the force or load 
exerted with the hands, may play a role in the development in these 
conditions. However, recent studies suggest a more significant role of 
localized shoulder muscle fatigue in contributing to these disorders. 
Fatigue of the shoulder muscles may result in changes in normal 
shoulder kinematics (motion) that affect risk for shoulder impingement 
disorders (Ebaugh et. al., 2006; Chopp et al., 2010).
    The U.S. Manufacturing sector has faced a number of challenges 
including an overall decline in jobs, an aging workforce, and changes 
in organizational management systems. Studies have indicated that the 
average age of industrial workers is increasing and that older workers 
may differ from younger workers in work capacity, injury risk, severity 
of injuries, and speed of recovery (Kenny et al., 2008; Gall et al., 
2004; Restrepo et al., 2006). As the average age of the industrial 
population increases and newer systems of work organization (such as 
lean manufacturing) are changing the nature of labor-intensive work, 
prevention of MSDs will be more critical to protecting older workers 
and maintaining productivity.
    This study will evaluate the efficacy of two intervention 
strategies for reducing musculoskeletal symptoms and pain in the 
shoulder attributable to overhead assembly work in automotive 
manufacturing. These interventions are, (1) an articulating spring-
tensioned tool support device that unloads from the worker the weight 
of the tool that would otherwise be manually supported, and, (2) a 
targeted exercise program intended to increase individual employees' 
strength and endurance in the shoulder and upper arm stabilizing muscle 
group. As a primary prevention strategy, the tool support engineering 
control approach is preferred; however, a cost-efficient opportunity 
exists to concurrently evaluate the efficacy of a preventive exercise 
program intervention. Both of these intervention approaches have been 
used in the Manufacturing sector, and preliminary evidence suggests 
that both approaches may have merit. However, high quality evidence 
demonstrating their effectiveness, by way of controlled trials, is 
lacking.
    This project will be conducted as a partnership between NIOSH and 
Toyota Motors Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA), 
with the intervention evaluation study taking place at the Toyota Motor 
Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) manufacturing facility in 
Georgetown, Kentucky. The prospective intervention evaluation study 
will be conducted using a group-randomized controlled trial multi-time 
series design. Four groups of 25-30 employees will be established to 
test the two intervention treatment conditions (tool support, exercise 
program), a combined intervention treatment condition, and a control 
condition. The four groups will be comprised of employees working on 
two vehicle assembly lines in different parts of the facility, on two 
work shifts (first and second shift). Individual randomization to 
treatment condition is not feasible, so a group-randomization (by work 
unit) will be used to assign the four groups to treatment and control 
conditions. Observations will be made over the 10-month study period 
and questionnaires will include the Shoulder Rating Questionnaire 
(SRQ), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, 
a Standardized Nordic Questionnaire for body part discomfort, and a 
Work Organization Questionnaire. In addition to the questionnaires a 
shoulder-specific functional capacity evaluation test battery will be 
administered at 90 and 210 days, immediately pre- and post-
intervention, to confirm the efficacy of the targeted exercise program 
in improving shoulder capacity.

[[Page 40890]]

    In summary, this study will evaluate the effectiveness of two 
interventions to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms and pain in the 
shoulder associated with repetitive overhead work in the manufacturing 
industry and will disseminate the results of evidence-based prevention 
practices to the greatest audience possible. NIOSH expects to complete 
data collection in 2014.
    There are no costs to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                   Respondents                       Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)      (in hours)
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PAR-Q (Physical Activity Readiness).............             125               1            2/60               4
Shoulder Rating Questionnaire (SRQ).............             125              10            4/60              83
Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH)             125              10            6/60             125
Standardized Nordic Questionnaire for                        125              10            4/60              83
 Musculoskeletal Symptoms Instrument............
Work Org Questionnaire..........................             125               3           26/60             163
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............             458
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Kimberly S. Lane,
Deputy Director, Office of Science Integrity, Office of the Associate 
Director for Science, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2012-16911 Filed 7-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P