[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42314-42316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17456]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-12-0835]


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

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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

    Assessing the Safety Culture of Underground Coal Mining (0920-0835 
Expiration 12/31/2012)--Revision--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.
    This research relates to occupational safety and health problems in 
the coal mining industry. In recent years, coal mining safety has 
attained national attention due to highly publicized disasters. Despite 
these threats to worker safety and health, the U.S. relies on coal 
mining to meet its electricity needs. For this reason, the coal mining 
industry must continue to find ways to protect its workers while 
maintaining productivity. One way to do so is through improving the 
safety culture at coal mines. In order to achieve this culture, 
operators, employees, the inspectorate, etc. must share a fundamental 
commitment to it as a value. This type of culture is known in other 
industries as a ``safety culture.'' Safety culture can be defined as 
the characteristics of the work environment, such as the norms, rules, 
and common understandings that influence employees' perceptions of the 
importance that the organization places on safety.
    NIOSH requests OMB approval to collect safety culture data from 
underground coal mine employees over a three-year period to continue 
the assessment of the current safety culture of underground coal mining 
in order to identify recommendations for promoting and ensuring the 
existence of a positive safety culture across the industry. Up to four 
underground coal mines will be studied for this assessment in an 
attempt to study mines of different characteristics. Small, medium, and 
large unionized as well as nonunionized mines will be recruited to 
diversify the research sample. Data will be collected one time at each 
mine; this is not a longitudinal study. The assessment includes the 
collection of data using several diagnostic tools: functional analysis, 
structured interviews, behavioral observations, and surveys.
    It is estimated that across the four mines, approximately 1,144 
respondents will be surveyed. The exact number of interviews conducted 
will be based upon the number of individuals in the mine populations, 
but it is estimated that, across the four mines, approximately 201 
interviews will be conducted. An exact number of participants is 
unavailable at this time because not all mine sites have been selected.
    The use of multiple methods to assess safety culture is a key 
aspect to the methodology. After all of the information has been 
gathered, a variety of statistical and qualitative analyses are 
conducted on the data to obtain conclusions with respect to the mine's 
safety culture. The results from these analyses will be presented in a 
report describing the status of the behaviors important to safety 
culture at that mine.
    Data collection for this project had previously taken place between 
the dates of January 1, 2010 and May 1, 2012. During this time period, 
safety culture assessments were conducted at five underground coal 
mines, including one small, two medium, and two large mines located in 
the Northern Appalachian, Central Appalachian, Southern Appalachian, 
and Western coal regions. One of the assessments was conducted at a 
unionized mine and the four other assessments were conducted at non-
union mines. Data were collected from 274 interview participants and 
1,356 survey respondents.
    From this previous data collection, some trends are beginning to 
emerge. These include safety culture characteristic differences 
depending on the size of the mine and also differences between union 
and non-union mines. However, the sample of participating mines from 
the previous data collection is not sufficient for conclusions to be 
drawn regarding these emerging trends. Therefore, the continuation of 
data collection is needed in order to include additional union mines 
and small mines into the study sample.
    Upon completion, this project will provide recommendations for the 
enactment of new safety practices or the enhancement of existing safety 
practices across the underground coal mining industry. This final 
report will present a generalized model of a positive safety culture 
for underground coal mines that can be applied at individual mines. In 
addition, all study measures and procedures will be available for mines 
to use in the future to evaluate their own safety cultures. There is no 
cost to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per     Total burden
      Type of respondents           Form name       respondents    responses per   response  (in    (in hours)
                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Underground Coal Mine           Safety Culture              1144               1           20/60             381
 Employees.                      Survey.
                                Behavioral                   201               1               1             201
                                 Anchored Rating
                                 Scale Interview.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............             582
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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. 2012-17456 Filed 7-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P