[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61363-61364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24244]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-13-0787]


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 LeRoy Richardson, 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

    Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) and Commercial Fishermen: 
Preconceptions and Evaluation in Actual Use--Reinstatement with 
Change--(OMB Number 0920-0787, expiration date 8/31/2010) National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    NIOSH has the responsibility under Pub. L. 91-596 section 20 
(Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970) to conduct research 
relating to innovative methods, techniques, and approaches for dealing 
with occupational safety and health problems.
    Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the 
United States, with a fatality rate 30 times higher than the national 
average. Most fishermen who die on the job drown subsequent to a vessel 
sinking (52%) or fall overboard (31%). Because drowning is the leading 
cause of death for commercial fishermen, its prevention is one of the 
highest priorities for those who work to make the industry safer.
    The risk of drowning for commercial fisherman is high, yet most 
fishermen do not wear Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) while on deck. 
Of the 182 fishermen who died from falls overboard between 2000 and 
2011 none of them were wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). Many 
were within minutes of being rescued when they lost their strength and 
disappeared under the surface of the water.
    NIOSH recently conducted a study to establish a baseline 
understanding of Alaska fishermen's perceptions of risk, safety 
attitudes, and beliefs about PFDs; and to evaluate a variety of modern 
PFDs with commercial fishermen to discover the features and qualities 
that they like and dislike. Based upon these results, NIOSH developed 
an intensive risk communication strategy to raise awareness to newer 
(potentially more satisfactory) PFD models, to address barriers, and to 
encourage increased PFD use among fishermen working in Alaska.
    The purpose of this study is to first, determine if fishermen's 
perception of risk, safety attitudes, and beliefs about PFDs has 
shifted or remained the same since the implementation of the initial 
survey (2008-2009); and second, to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
NIOSH intensive risk communication intervention.

[[Page 61364]]

    NIOSH is requesting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval 
to administer a survey to fishermen operating in Alaska fisheries. This 
questionnaire will contain questions that measure fishermen's risk 
perceptions, safety attitudes, and beliefs about PFDs, as well as 
recognition and influence of NIOSH risk communication activities. The 
questionnaire will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. 
Consistent with the previous OMB-approved data collection protocol, the 
sample size was determined to be 400 total respondents to achieve a 95% 
confidence level. Two hundred independent respondents will be sampled 
just prior to the 2014 season and an additional two hundred will be 
sampled just prior to the 2015 season.
    This study has the potential to greatly benefit the fishing 
industry. As a result of previous research, NIOSH has gained a baseline 
understanding of fishermen's reasons for not wearing PFDs. With this 
empirical data at hand, an intensive risk communication intervention 
has been developed to address fishermen's concerns and remove the 
barriers that are currently in place.
    There are no costs to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
      Type of respondent            Form name        Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs)        (in hrs)
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Fishermen (2014 fishing         PFD Survey......             200               1           20/60              67
 season).
Fishermen (2015 fishing         PFD Survey......             200               1           20/60              67
 season).
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............             134
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Leroy Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 2013-24244 Filed 10-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P