[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63207-63208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24824]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-14-14AC]


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, 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

    Application of a Web-based Health Survey Tool in Schools--New--
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health (NIOSH) is to promote safety and health at work for all people 
through research and prevention. The Occupational Safety and Health 
Act, Public Law 91-596 (section 20[a] [1]), authorizes NIOSH to conduct 
research to advance the health and safety of workers. NIOSH is 
proposing to conduct a health questionnaire of employees in 50 
elementary schools in a large school district in the Northeastern 
United States.
    According to the 2012 Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, the 
educational services sector employs approximately 12.9 million workers, 
with 8.4 million working in elementary and secondary schools. A 2010 
analysis of data on U.S. working adults indicated that the educational 
services sector had one of the highest prevalence's of current asthma 
at 13.1%.
    In 1995, the Government Accounting Office reported that about 33% 
of schools in the U.S. needed extensive repair or replacement of one or 
more buildings, which includes problems related to dampness and mold. A 
better understanding of school building conditions related to dampness 
and mold, as well as associated health effects, is essential for the 
prevention of work-related illness in school staff.
    NIOSH requests OMB approval to administer an internet-based 
questionnaire to collect health information on staff from 50 schools 
within this school district. The survey will be conducted concurrently 
with a field-based environmental survey using a dampness and mold 
assessment tool, which was developed by NIOSH to collect information on 
dampness and mold in buildings. NIOSH will collaborate with the school 
district and local teachers union to recruit a broad range of school 
staff as participants, including teachers, administrative staff, 
facilities and maintenance staff, nurses and counselors, and kitchen 
staff for this study. Results will be used to determine possible 
relationships between health outcomes and environmental conditions, 
specifically conditions related to dampness and mold. Results will also 
help to validate the dampness and mold assessment tool.
    Overall results will benefit many stakeholders, including school-
affiliated and general administrative personnel, facilities and 
maintenance representatives, building owners, and safety and health 
professionals charged with the prevention, identification, and

[[Page 63208]]

remediation of environmental issues when occupant health concerns are 
raised.
    NIOSH anticipates that the internet-based questionnaire will begin 
in the spring of 2014. All participants will be asked to complete the 
same questionnaire, which will take approximately 20 minutes to 
complete. The total estimated burden for this one-time collection of 
data is 1,567 hours. There are no costs to respondents other than their 
time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of      Avg. burden
      Type of respondents           Form name        Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs.)       (in hrs.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elementary School Employees...  Elementary                 4,700               1           20/60           1,567
                                 School Staff
                                 Questionnaire.
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............           1,567
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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.
[FR Doc. 2013-24824 Filed 10-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P