[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31382-31383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13383]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-15-15LB]


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

    Enhancing Dialogue and Execution of Dust Reduction Behaviors 
through Workgroup Communication--New--National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    NIOSH, under Public Law 91-596, Sections 20 and 22 (Section 20-22, 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1977) has the responsibility to 
conduct research relating to innovative methods, techniques, and 
approaches dealing with occupational safety and health problems.
    This project focuses on mineworkers' overexposure to respirable 
coal dust and how using the Continuous Personal Dust Monitor (CPDM), as 
an educational tool, can help provide information to mineworkers and 
their respective workgroups and shift leaders (i.e., frontline 
supervisors, shift foremen, etc), about ways to reduce respirable coal 
dust exposure in their work environment. NIOSH proposes a three-year 
approval for a project that seeks to understand what group 
communication practices are important for mineworker H&S and how those 
practices can be developed, implemented, and maintained over time. The 
following questions guide this study: What impact does a communication/
technology intervention model that was designed and implemented have 
on: (1) Workers' health/safety behaviors, including those that lower 
exposure to dust; (2) workers' perceptions of their organizations' 
health and safety values; and (3) the types of health and safety 
management practices identified and utilized by mine site leaders to 
support workers' health/safety behaviors?
    To answer the above questions, NIOSH researchers developed an 
intervention that focuses on workers' communication about and 
subsequent actions taken to reduce respirable dust exposure over time, 
using information provided by their Continuous Personal Dust Monitor 
(CPDM). The intervention will inform how workgroups communicate with 
each other and their shift supervisor about health and how this 
communication impacts individual behavior such as corrective dust 
actions taken by workers.
    A new rule (CFR part 70) that passed May 1, 2014, requires mine 
operators to use CPDMs by February 1, 2016, for designated occupations. 
Continuous Personal Dust Monitors are wearable devices that provide 
miners with near real-time feedback about their level of respirable 
coal dust exposure. However, they do not ensure that miners will use 
the information to reduce their level of exposure. With the stricter 
regulations that just passed the opportunity to proactively improve 
communication around the CPDM and identify appropriate corrective 
actions, as required by the Mine Health and Safety Administration, is 
favorable.
    In response, an intervention was designed to involve workers in the 
interpretation of CPDM feedback and discuss, with their coworkers/
workgroups and respective shift leaders, potential changes to work 
practices that can decrease exposure to respirable coal mine dust. Data 
is collected no more than three times throughout a six-week study 
period (i.e., pre, mid, and post assessments). Data collection includes 
a pre/post survey and focus groups with workers and site leaders. These 
focus groups function as ``safety circles.'' Safety circles are used to 
communicate and encourage specific behavior changes. A typical circle 
includes a facilitator or leader (who directs the meetings), 7-10 
members, and one-hour weekly meetings that take place during the 
workday.
    NIOSH proposes this intervention design at no less than three but 
no more than five coal mine sites. Coal mine sites will be recruited 
who have inquired interest in learning how to improve utility of the 
CPDM on their site and/or interest in improving their employees' 
communication efforts. Only a small sample of workers will participate 
at each mine site because of the time required for completion and to 
ensure the longitudinal data can be adequately collected over the six 
weeks. In other words, we would rather collect data multiple times with 
the same worker and have fewer participants than collect data from more 
workers but not have the ability to appropriately follow-up during the 
subsequent visits.
    Data collection will take place over three years. The respondents 
targeted for this study include any active mine worker and any active 
site leader at a coal mine site. It is estimated that a sample of up to 
150 mine workers will participate, which includes

[[Page 31383]]

participating in three focus groups (in the form of safety circle 
workgroup meetings) that will take approximately 60 minutes. The 60 
minutes includes a 30 minute discussion and the completion of a focus 
group worksheet and at one point, a dust control worksheet. The focus 
groups will debrief general CPDM data so participants can dialogue 
about ways to lower their exposure levels. In addition, workers will be 
asked to complete a pre and post survey (~15 minutes). It also is 
estimated that a sample of up to nine mine site leaders will 
participate in the form of interviews/focus groups about HSMS practices 
at the same mining operations which have agreed to participate, and 
complete a dust assessment form. The interviews/focus groups also will 
occur two to three times during each of the NIOSH field visits and will 
take no more than 45 minutes each. All participants will be between the 
ages of 18 and 75, currently employed, and living in the United States. 
Participation will require no more than 3 hours of workers' time over 
the six-week intervention and no more than 2.5 hours of site leaders' 
time over the six-week intervention period.
    There is no cost to respondents other than their time. The total 
burden in time is an estimated 64 burden hours.

                                        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)
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Mine & Health Safety Managers/       Mine Recruitment and                      3               1            5/60
 Leaders.                             Participation Script.
                                     Worksite Leadership                       3               3           45/60
                                      Interview/Focus Group
                                      Guide.
                                     Controls to Reduce                        3               1           15/60
                                      Respirable Dust Exposure
                                      Assessment Worksheet for
                                      Workers and Management.
Individual Mine Workers............  Mine Worker Recruitment                  50               1            5/60
                                      Script.
                                     Pre/Post Mine Worker Survey              50               2           15/60
                                     Mine Worker CPDM Focus                   50               3           30/60
                                      Group Guide.
                                     Controls to Reduce                       50               1           15/60
                                      Respirable Dust Exposure
                                      Assessment Worksheet for
                                      Workers and Management.
                                     Mine Worker Focus Group                  50               3           15/60
                                      Worksheet.
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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. 2015-13383 Filed 6-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P