[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15618-15620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06655]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-15-15GD]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    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

    Emergency Self Escape for Coal Miners--New--National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).

[[Page 15619]]

Background and Brief Description

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) mission is 
to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling 
disease, injury, and disability. The National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides national and world 
leadership to prevent work-related illness, injury, disability, and 
death by gathering information, conducting scientific research, and 
translating knowledge gained into products and services. NIOSH's 
mission is critical to the health and safety of every American worker. 
The Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR), one of the 
preeminent mining research laboratories in the world, is focused on 
occupational health and safety research for mine workers.
    Recent research by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has 
called for a detailed, formal task analysis of mine self-escape 
(National Research Council, 2013). Such an analysis should identify the 
knowledge, skills, abilities, and other attributes (KSAOs) needed by 
mine personnel in the event of a mine disaster to successfully complete 
an emergency self-escape. This analysis will identify gaps between 
worker demands and capabilities, and propose recommendations to either 
minimize those gaps or enhance existing systems (e.g., communications, 
training, technology).
    The purpose of the project is to enhance the ability of miners to 
escape from underground coal mines in the event of a fire, explosion, 
collapse of the mine structure, or flooding of the area by toxic gas or 
water. To escape, miners need to perform a set of tasks that apply 
specific knowledge and skills in moving through the mine, avoiding 
dangers, and using protective equipment. The project will identify the 
tasks, knowledge and skills, procedures, equipment, communications, and 
physical requirements of self-escape. The results are expected to lead 
to recommendations for improvements to task requirements and 
procedures, equipment, training and communication processes.
    NIOSH proposes this two-year study to better understand the 
requirements of emergency self-escape and to answer the following 
questions:
     What tasks (and critical tasks) do miners perform during 
self-escape?
     What knowledge beyond that needed to perform normal, 
routine mining tasks do miners require to facilitate successful self-
escape?
     What are the cognitive requirements (such as reasoning, or 
weighing and deciding among alternatives, recognizing when a course of 
action is not producing the intended results) beyond that needed to 
perform normal, routine mining tasks?
     What other cognitive abilities or other cognitive 
competencies are needed?
     What gaps exist between what miners are required to do for 
self-escape and their capabilities?
     How can self-escape be improved by redesigning, 
eliminating, or modifying tasks or training, or by altering or 
introducing specific technologies/tools?
    To answer these questions, we will use a task analysis study design 
that utilizes a multiple-method approach, to include (a) review of 
available research, (b) interviews and focus group meetings with 
participants, and (c) unobtrusive observation (e.g., of drills). During 
interviews and focus groups, targeted questions are asked to elicit the 
level and type of desired information. This system of collecting 
information is ``active'' in that participants are presented stimuli 
(e.g., disaster scenarios, worker roles) and asked directly to provide 
their perceptions (e.g., of tasks or cognitive requirements needed to 
accomplish self-escape in that disaster). Observation checklists have 
been developed to capture relevant information during the unobtrusive 
naturalistic observations of self-escape drills. These data are then 
organized, collated, and re-presented to participants for confirmation 
of accuracy. Recommendations are generated based on study findings, 
related research and practices, and logical inference.
    Participants will be mining personnel drawn from two operating coal 
mines, one large and one smaller mine, to represent the variety within 
the industry. The data collection schedule (e.g., timing and duration 
of interviews and focus groups) will be modified as needed to minimize 
disruption to mine operations. Up to 30 miner volunteers will 
participate in the study. Minimal time (<5 minutes each) will be spent 
in recruitment and obtaining informed consent.
    Semi-structured interviews with mine personnel will require 1.5-2 
hours of their time depending on the interview. Each of the two focus 
groups (the Initial Focus Group and the HTA) will require approximately 
12 hours of a participant's time total. However, a given focus group 
will be executed in smaller blocks of time to reduce the burden on 
participants. Participants in the Initial Focus Group are not required 
to participate in the HTA Focus Group.
    Observation of drills will occur as part of normal mine operations 
and will not result in any additional burden on the respondents.
    The total estimated burden hours are 207.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
          Type of respondent                    Form name            Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Underground coal miners...............  Recruitment Script......              30               1            5/60
Underground coal miners...............  Informed Consent........              30               1            5/60
Underground coal miners...............  Initial Interviews......               6               1             1.5
Underground coal miners...............  CTA Interviews..........              12               2               2
Underground coal miners...............  Initial focus group                   12               6               1
                                         sessions.
Underground coal miners...............  HTA focus group sessions              12               6               1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 15620]]

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. 2015-06655 Filed 3-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P