[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45614-45615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18745]



[[Page 45614]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60-Day 12-0843]


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

    Field Evaluation of Prototype Kneel-assist Devices in Low-seam 
Mining (0920-0843, Expiration 1/31/2013)--Extension--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.
    According to the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) 
injury database, 227 knee injuries were reported in underground coal 
mining in 2007. With data from the National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health (NIOSH), it can be estimated that the financial 
burden of knee injuries was nearly three million dollars in 2007.
    Typically, mine workers utilize kneepads to better distribute the 
pressures at the knee. The effectiveness of these kneepads was only 
recently investigated in a study by NIOSH that has not yet been 
published. The results of this study demonstrated that kneepads do 
decrease the maximum stress applied to the knee, albeit, not 
drastically. Additionally, the average pressure across the knee remains 
similar to the case where subjects wore no kneepads at all. Thus, the 
injury data and the results of this study suggest the need for the 
improved design of kneel-assist devices such as kneepads. NIOSH is 
currently undertaking the task of designing more effective kneel-assist 
devices such as a kneepad and a padded support worn at the ankle where 
mine workers can comfortably rest their body weight.
    These devices must also be field tested to verify they do not 
result in body discomfort or inadvertent accidents. It is also 
important to determine how usable and durable these devices are in the 
harsh mining environment. In order to quantitatively demonstrate that 
these prototype devices are superior to their predecessors, mine 
workers using these prototypes must be interviewed. Their feedback will 
identify any necessary changes to the design of the devices such that 
NIOSH can ensure the prototypes will be well-accepted by the mining 
community.
    To collect this type of information, a field study must be 
conducted where kneel-assist devices currently used in the mining 
industry (i.e. kneepads) are compared to the new prototype designs. The 
study suggested here would take approximately 13 months. NIOSH received 
OMB approval in 2010 in order to conduct the study. However, an 
extension is being requested for this project, as the kneepad prototype 
is still under development and to date, no data has been collected. 
Once a viable prototype is available, testing will commence and miners 
will start by evaluating a control kneepad.
    A pilot mine will be identified to test the prototype kneel-assist 
devices prior to commencing a full study. The data collected at this 
pilot mine will ensure that the prototype kneel-assist devices are 
likely to be successful. Data will be collected via interviews with 
individual mine workers and through a focus group where all mine 
workers come together to express their opinions about the devices. If 
the prototype kneel-assist devices do not appear to be successful, the 
data collected will be used to adequately redesign them and the above 
described process will begin again. If the prototype kneel-assist 
devices appear to be successful, the full study will commence.
    Once the full study is ready to commence, cooperating mines will be 
identified. Every month, the section foreman at the cooperating mines 
will be asked to supply some information regarding the current mine 
environment.
    Initially, the mine workers will be given a control kneel-assist 
device. Currently, mine workers only utilize kneepads as a kneel-assist 
device. Therefore, only a control kneepad will be provided. They will 
then be asked some basic demographics information such as their age and 
time in the mining industry. Additional data will then be collected at 
1, 3, and 6 months after the study commences. The mine workers will be 
asked to provide their feedback regarding factors such as body part 
discomfort, usability, durability, and ease of movement. There is no 
cost to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                    Number of    Average burden
         Respondents               Form name        Number of     responses per   per response     Total burden
                                                   respondents     respondent      (in hours)       (in hours)
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Section Foreman (pilot mine).  Section Foreman                1               1           10/60              0.2
                                Form.
Mine Workers (pilot mine--     Baseline Form...               9               1           20/60              3
 baseline).
Mine Workers (pilot mine--one  1, 3, and 6                    9               1           30/60              5
 month).                        months forms.

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Mine Workers (pilot mine--     Focus Group                    9               1               1              9
 focus group).                  Questions.
Section Foreman (full study).  Section Foreman                6              12           10/60             12
                                Form.
Mine Workers (full study--     Baseline Form...              54               1           20/60             18
 baseline).
Mine Workers (full study--1,   1, 3, and 6                   54               6           25/60            135
 3, and 6 months for control    months forms.
 and prototypes).
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    Total....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............            182
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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. 2012-18745 Filed 7-31-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P