[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51338-51340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20477]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-14-0260]


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

    Health Hazard Evaluations/Technical Assistance and Emerging 
Problems (0920-0260, Expiration 11/30/2014)--Revision--National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and the Federal Mine 
Safety and Health Act of 1977, mandates the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) respond to requests for health 
hazard evaluations (HHE) to identify chemical, biological or physical 
hazards in workplaces throughout the United States. Each year, NIOSH 
receives approximately 300 such requests. Most HHE requests come from 
the following types of companies: service, manufacturing, health and 
social services, transportation, construction, agriculture, mining, 
skilled trade and construction.
    A printed HHE request form is available in English and in Spanish. 
The form is also available on the Internet and differs from the printed 
version only in format and in the fact that it can be submitted 
directly from the Web site. The request form takes an estimated 12 
minutes to complete. The form provides the mechanism for employees, 
employers, and other authorized representatives to supply the 
information required by the regulations governing the NIOSH HHE program 
(42 CFR 85.3-1).
    If employees are submitting the form, it must contain the 
signatures of three or more current employees. However, regulations 
allow a single signature if the requestor: is one of three (3) or fewer 
employees in the process, operation, or job of concern; or is any 
officer of a labor union representing the employees for collective 
bargaining purposes. An individual management official may request an 
evaluation on behalf of the employer. The information provided is used 
by NIOSH to determine whether there is reasonable cause to justify 
conducting an investigation and provides a mechanism to respond to the 
requestor.

[[Page 51339]]

    NIOSH reviews the HHE request to determine if an on-site evaluation 
is needed. The primary purpose of an on-site evaluation is to help 
employers and employees identify and eliminate occupational health 
hazards. For 40% of the requests received NIOSH determines an on-site 
evaluation is needed.
    In about 70% of on-site evaluations, employees are interviewed to 
help further define concerns. Interviews may take approximately 15 
minutes per respondent. The interview questions are specific to each 
workplace and its suspected diseases and hazards. However, interviews 
are based on standard medical practices.
    In approximately 30% of on-site evaluations (presently estimated to 
be 38 facilities), questionnaires are distributed to the employees 
(averaging about 100 employees per site). Questionnaires may require 
approximately 30 minutes to complete.
    The survey questions are specific to each workplace and its 
suspected diseases and hazards, however, items in the questionnaires 
are derived from standardized or widely used medical and epidemiologic 
data collection instruments.
    About 70% of the on-site evaluations involve employee exposure 
monitoring in the workplace. Employees participating in on-site 
evaluations by wearing a sampler or monitoring device to measure 
personal workplace exposures are offered the opportunity to get a 
written notice of their exposure results. To indicate their preference 
and, if interested, provide mailing information, employees complete a 
contact information post card. Completing the contact card may take 5 
minutes or less. The number of employees monitored for workplace 
exposures per on-site evaluation is estimated to be 25 per site.
    NIOSH distributes interim and final reports of health hazard 
evaluations, excluding personal identifiers, to: requesters, employers, 
employee representatives; the Department of Labor (Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration or Mine Safety and Health Administration, as 
appropriate); state health departments; and, as needed, other state and 
federal agencies.
    NIOSH administers a follow-back program to assess the effectiveness 
of its HHE program in reducing workplace hazards. This program entails 
the mailing of follow-back questionnaires to employer and employee 
representatives at all the workplaces where NIOSH conducted an on-site 
evaluation. In a small number of instances, a follow-back on-site 
evaluation may be completed. The first follow-back questionnaire is 
sent shortly after the first visit for an on-site evaluation and takes 
about 10 minutes to complete. A second follow-back questionnaire is 
sent a year later and requires about 15 minutes to complete. At 24 
months, a third follow-back questionnaire is sent which takes about 15 
minutes to complete.
    For requests where NIOSH does not conduct an on-site evaluation, 
the requestor receives the first follow-back questionnaire 12 months 
after our response and a second one 24 months after our response. The 
first questionnaire takes about 10 minutes to complete and the second 
questionnaire takes about 15 minutes to complete.
    Because of the number of investigations conducted each year, the 
need to respond quickly to requests for assistance, the diverse and 
unpredictable nature of these investigations, and its follow-back 
program to assess evaluation effectiveness; NIOSH requests a 
consolidated clearance for data collections performed within the domain 
of its HHE program. There is no cost to respondents other than their 
time. The total estimated annual burden hours are 3,019.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per
         Type of respondent                      Form               respondents   responses  per    response in
                                                                                     respondent        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employees and representatives/       Health Hazard Evaluation                300               1           12/60
 employers.                           Request Form.
Employees..........................  Health Hazard Evaluation              2,670               1           15/60
                                      specific interview example.
Employees..........................  Health Hazard Evaluation              3,800               1           30/60
                                      specific questionnaire
                                      example.
Employees..........................  Contact information post              2,225               1            5/60
                                      card.
Employees and Representatives;       First follow-back                       252               1           10/60
 Employers--Year 1 (on-site           questionnaire.
 evaluation).
                                     Second follow-back                      252               1           15/60
                                      questionnaire.
Employees and Representatives;       Third follow-back                       252               1           15/60
 Employers--Year 2.                   questionnaire.
(on-site evaluation)...............
Employees and Representatives;       First follow-back                        90               1           10/60
 Employers--Year 1.                   questionnaire.
(without on-site evaluation).......
Employees and Representatives;       Second follow-back                       90               1           15/60
 Employers--Year 2.                   questionnaire.
(without on-site evaluation).......
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[[Page 51340]]

Leroy A. 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. 2014-20477 Filed 8-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P