[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35933-35934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14152]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30-Day-13-13JI]


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 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Send written comments 
to CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 
20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written comments should be received 
within 30 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 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 US. The project objective will be achieved 
through specific aims in two related areas as illustrated below.
Training Assessment
    1. Evaluate four training modules.
    2. Evaluate participant reactions.
    3. Develop guidelines.
Training Development
    4. Use 3D technologies to develop a prototype for a mine rescue 
closed-circuit breathing apparatus (e.g., 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 collected 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. The total estimated annual burden hours are 32.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of        Number        burden per
         Type of respondent                    Form name            respondents    responses per   response  (in
                                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr[auml]ger BG4 participants (i.e.,   Pre-Training Questionnaire              30               1            3/60
 closed circuit breathing apparatus
 training participants).
Mine Rescue participants............  Pre-Training Questionnaire              60               1            3/60
                                      Post-Simulation                         60               1            3/60
                                       Questionnaire.
                                      Post-Training                           60               1            3/60
                                       Questionnaire.
Mine Escape participants............  Pre-Training Questionnaire              60               1            3/60
                                      Post-Simulation                         60               1            3/60
                                       Questionnaire.
                                      Post-Training                           60               1            3/60
                                       Questionnaire.
Mine Escape/Longwall Mining           Pre/Post-Training                       30               1            6/60
 participants.                         Knowledge Test.
Mine Escape/Continuous Mining         Pre/Post-Training                       30               1            6/60
 participants.                         Knowledge Test.
Mine Rescue/Longwall Mining           Pre/Post-Training                       30               1            6/60
 participants.                         Knowledge Test.
Mine Rescue/Continuous Mining         Pre/Post-Training                       30               1            6/60
 participants.                         Knowledge Test.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 35934]]

Ron A. Otten,
Director, Office of Scientific Integrity, Office of the Associate 
Director for Science, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-14152 Filed 6-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P