[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 137 (Thursday, July 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41693-41694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16839]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30 Day-14-0975]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted 
the following information collection request to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed 
information collection is published to obtain comments from the public 
and affected agencies.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are 
encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a) 
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the 
accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and 
(e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Written comments and/or 
suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be 
directed to the Attention: 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--
Revision--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 U.S.
    As stated previously in the original information collection request 
justification, research activities involving rank-and-file underground 
coal miners who participate in the mine escape training may occur at 
either the MRET Lab or in an off-site classroom or other typical 
instructional setting either at an above-ground mine safety training 
facility, mine administration building, or a university or academic 
environment (hereinto referenced as the ``classroom setting''). Having 
these two subsamples allows us to better assess uses for VR training 
applications, determine the potential additive value of training 
provided in the MRET Lab, and the potential benefits of adapting 
simulation-based mine emergency training to a broader audience. To 
accommodate an appropriate amount of mine escape participants for both 
the MRET Lab modules and classroom settings, we are requesting adding 
60 more participants to our 150 participant data collection cap, which 
would ideally leave us with 30 BG4 participants, 60 mine rescue 
participants (MRET Lab), 60 mine escape participants (MRET Lab), and 60 
mine escape participants (classroom setting), for a new grand total of 
210 participants.
    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 210 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. 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 burden hours are 47.

[[Page 41694]]



                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                                      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                          30               1            3/60
 closed circuit breathing apparatus      Questionnaire.
 training participants).
Mine Rescue participants..............  Pre-Training                          60               1            3/60
                                         Questionnaire.
                                        Post-Simulation                       60               1            3/60
                                         Questionnaire.
                                        Post-Training                         60               1            3/60
                                         Questionnaire.
Mine Escape participants..............  Pre-Training                         120               1            3/60
                                         Questionnaire.
                                        Post-Simulation                       60               1            3/60
                                         Questionnaire (MRET Lab
                                         version).
                                        Post-Simulation                       60               1            3/60
                                         Questionnaire (Field
                                         Test Version).
                                        Post-Training                        120               1            3/60
                                         Questionnaire.
Mine Escape/Longwall Mining             Pre/Post-Training                     60               1            6/60
 participants.                           Knowledge Test.
Mine Escape/Continuous Mining           Pre/Post-Training                     60               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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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. 2014-16839 Filed 7-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P