[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 37 (Monday, February 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12756-12757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04233]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-13-13JI]


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 or 
send comments to Ron Otten, 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

    Virtual Reality to Train and Assess Emergency Responders--New--
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    NIOSH, under Public Law 91-173 as amended by Public Law 95-164 
(Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977), and Public Law 109-236 
(Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006) has the 
responsibility to conduct research to improve working conditions and to 
prevent accidents and occupational diseases in underground coal and 
metal/nonmetal mines in the U.S.
    The turn of the 21st century started with much promise for the coal 
mining industry. Because there was only one underground disaster in the 
1990s, it seemed that emergency response in the

[[Page 12757]]

United States no longer needed to be a top research priority. However, 
major coal mine disasters between 2001 and 2010 have resulted in 65 
fatalities. These events highlighted the critical need to balance 
investments to reduce low probability/high severity events with those 
that focus on frequent, but less severe injuries and illnesses.
    The present research project seeks to determine optimal use of 
virtual reality (VR) technologies for training and assessing mine 
emergency responders using the Mine Rescue and Escape Training 
Laboratory (MRET Lab). Responders include specially trained 
individuals, such as mine rescue or fire brigade team members, and also 
managers and miners who may either be called upon to respond to an 
emergency situation or engage in self-protective actions in response to 
an emergency. This project is a step toward determining how new 
immersive virtual reality technologies should be used for miner 
training and testing in the U.S.
    The project objective will be achieved through specific aims in the 
two related areas of training assessment and training development. 
Training assessment includes evaluating four training modules, 
evaluating participant reactions, and developing guidelines. Training 
development involves the use of 3D technologies to develop a prototype 
for a mine rescue closed-circuit breathing apparatus (Dr[auml]ger BG4).
    To accomplish these goals over the life of the project, researchers 
will utilize a variety of data collection strategies, including self-
report pre-and post-test instruments for assessing trainee reaction and 
measuring learning. Data collection will take place with approximately 
150 underground coal miners over three years. The respondents targeted 
for this study include rank-and-file miners, mine rescue team members, 
and mine safety and health professionals. A sample of 150 individuals 
will be selected from various mining operations and mine rescue teams 
which have agreed to participate. All participants will be between the 
ages of 18 and 65, currently employed, and living in the United States. 
Findings will be used to improve the safety and health of underground 
coal miners by assessing the efficacy of immersive VR environments for 
teaching critical mine safety and health skills.
    To assess learning as a result of training, each participant will 
complete a pre-training questionnaire, a post-simulation questionnaire, 
and a post-training questionnaire. Participants evaluating the closed-
circuit breathing apparatus training will only complete a version of 
the pre-training questionnaire. 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 respondent            Form name       respondents    responses per   response  (in       hours
                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr[auml]ger BG4 participants    Pre-Training                  30               1            3/60               2
 (i.e., closed circuit           Questionnaire.
 breathing apparatus training
 participants).
Mine Rescue participants......  Pre-Training                  60               1            3/60               3
                                 Questionnaire.
                                Post-Simulation               60               1            3/60               3
                                 Questionnaire.
                                Post-Training                 60               1            3/60               3
                                 Questionnaire.
Mine Escape participants......  Pre-Training                  60               1            3/60               3
                                 Questionnaire.
                                Post-Simulation               60               1            3/60               3
                                 Questionnaire.
                                Post-Training                 60               1            3/60               3
                                 Questionnaire.
Mine Escape/Longwall Mining     Pre/Post-                     30               1            6/60               3
 participants.                   Training
                                 Knowledge Test.
Mine Escape/Continuous Mining   Pre/Post-                     30               1            6/60               3
 participants.                   Training
                                 Knowledge Test.
Mine Rescue/Longwall Mining     Pre/Post-                     30               1            6/60               3
 participants.                   Training
                                 Knowledge Test.
Mine Rescue/Continuous Mining   Pre/Post-                     30               1            6/60               3
 participants.                   Training
                                 Knowledge Test.
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............              32
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    Date: February 19, 2013.
Ron A. Otten,
Director, Office of Scientific Integrity (OSI), Office of the Associate 
Director for Science (OADS), Office of the Director, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-04233 Filed 2-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P