[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7193-7194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02509]



[[Page 7193]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-14-14HW]


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

    Evaluating Interventions for Airplane Cargo Baggage Handling--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 worker safety and health through research 
and prevention. Under Public Law 91-596, sections 20 and 22 (Section 
20-22, Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970), NIOSH has the 
responsibility to conduct research to advance the health and safety of 
workers. In this capacity, NIOSH is seeking a three year approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct a study to assess 
the effectiveness and cost-benefit of engineering interventions for 
reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among baggage handlers 
working at airports. This project is part of the current mission of 
NIOSH to conduct scientific intervention effectiveness research to 
support the evidence-based prevention of occupational injuries and 
illnesses.
    In recent years (2009-2012), the overall annual incidence rate of 
work-related injuries resulting in days away from work, job transfer, 
or restricted work in the airport passenger transportation industry was 
approximately 7%. This is one of the highest rates in all job 
categories tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). A very 
large proportion of the injury cases in the airport passenger 
transportation industry are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), 
especially low back disorders, which were found primarily in baggage 
handlers working in the ramp or tarmac area, where airplanes are parked 
for services.
    Of the variety of ramp services provided for each flight, baggage 
handling for narrow-bodied airplane (e.g., McDonnell Douglas or MD 
Super 80, Boeing 737 and 757) poses a high risk for MSDs.
    The baggage handling operations in the ramp area for narrow-bodied 
airplanes are performed in three main job positions: (1) Lifting 
baggage from baggage cart to a belt loader (a self-propelled conveyor 
used for transferring baggage to the cargo compartment of the 
airplane), (2) lifting/pulling/pushing baggage from the belt loader to 
the airplane baggage cargo compartment (a small room located in the 
belly of the airplane) at the compartment door, and (3) stacking 
baggage in the compartment. The baggage handling tasks are performed in 
a reversed order when baggage is unloaded from the airplane. The 
ceiling heights of the cargo compartments in the narrow-bodied 
airplanes range from 46-55 inches (1.2-1.4 m), resulting in a 
restricted working environment. Speed, efficiency and accuracy are 
important for the ground services to minimize operational costs. Short 
turnaround time and restricted cargo compartments make baggage transfer 
a very physically demanding job.
    Because of the physically demanding working environment, many 
ergonomic risk factors, such as awkward postures, heavy lifting, high 
lifting frequencies and dynamic body movements, are inevitably present 
in the ramp services. These observed risk factors for MSDs have been 
documented by previous published investigations for baggage handlers. 
To avoid these risk factors for MSDs and increase baggage handling 
efficiency, some companies designed mechanical lifting aids. A recent 
literature review, however, indicates that there is little published 
information relating to evaluations of these mechanical lifting aids. 
No comprehensive risk, injury and cost benefit information associated 
with the lifting aids was previously reported. This study will provide 
current important information on selected lifting aids for cargo 
baggage handling to improve the health and safety of baggage handlers 
working at airports.
    On the basis of previous study findings and field feasibility, the 
two types of mechanical lifting aids (i.e., engineering interventions) 
selected for evaluations in the current study are the semi-automatic 
roller conveyor and vacuum lifting assist system. The vacuum lifting 
system is planned to be used in job position 1, while the roller 
conveyor is planned to be used in job positions 2 and 3.
    NIOSH will collaborate with a large airline company to evaluate the 
two above-mentioned interventions at a study site feasible for 
implementation. A prospective study design will be used with a control 
group to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions. An estimate 
of 960 ramp workers are planned to be recruited into the study. A 
subset (30) of the study participants will be randomly chosen to use 
one intervention, resulting in 60 participants total in the two 
intervention groups and 900 left to serve as the control group. MSD 
risk and incidence data will be collected by a self-reported 
questionnaire at baseline, one and two years after implementation of 
the two interventions. Additional MSD symptoms and intervention 
compliance information will be requested monthly by a short mail-in 
questionnaire. The effectiveness of the interventions will be assessed 
by a reduction in MSD risks or incidence rates at the end of the two 
follow-up periods.
    The primary health outcomes from the questionnaires include self-
reported musculoskeletal symptoms in multiple body regions (neck, 
shoulders, low back and knees), sickness, absence, and medical 
attention due to the symptoms. The annual questionnaire will be used to 
collect additional information (demographics, alcohol consumption, 
health problems, etc.), job demands (work method, time spent on each 
job position, etc.), and psychosocial job characteristics (perceived 
job stress, co-worker support, etc.).
    Video recording of the job tasks performed by a subset of 
participants (N=30) in the control group and all (N=60) in the 
intervention groups will

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be conducted by NIOSH investigators. A force gauge will be used by the 
NIOSH investigators to measure participants' hand forces for baggage 
handling tasks. Physical risk data will be determined by estimated 
working posture in the video recording and measured force data using a 
biomechanical model. Baggage weight information in the airline company 
baggage record system will be used to estimate the number of baggage 
handling operations per flight/day to estimate a cumulative risk.
    The burden to respondents is determined by the required minimal 
sample size and the information necessary for a sound study design. The 
questionnaires will be completed by respondents during their work time. 
There is no burden to respondents during video recording and hand force 
sampling because the video and force data collections will be conducted 
by NIOSH investigators without respondents' involvement. The estimated 
times for completing the annual and monthly questionnaires are 30 and 
10 minutes per person, respectively.
    An informed consent form will be collected one time during the 
initial enrollment period. An early exit phone interview will be 
conducted if the respondent decides to leave the study before the end 
date. The estimated burden of the interview is based on an estimated 
20% drop-out rate.
    There is no cost to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of    Average burden
      Type of respondents           Form name        Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs)        (in hrs)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Airline baggage handlers in     Self-reported                960               1           30/60             480
 the ramp area.                  annual
                                 questionnaire
                                 survey for MSD
                                 symptoms and
                                 risk factors.
                                Self-reported                960              12           10/60           1,920
                                 monthly
                                 questionnaire
                                 for MSD
                                 symptoms and
                                 work method.
                                Informed Consent             960               1            5/60              80
                                 Form.
                                Early Exit                   192               1            5/60              16
                                 Interview.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............           2,496
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Leroy Richardson,
Chief, Office of Scientific Integrity, Office of the Associate Director 
for Science, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2014-02509 Filed 2-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P