[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 179 (Monday, September 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43546-43547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19744]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-17-0260]


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. CDC previously published a 
``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations'' notice on May 31, 2017 to obtain comments from the 
public and affected agencies. CDC did not receive comments related to 
the previous notice. The purpose of this notice is to allow an 
additional 30 days for public comments.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are 
encouraged. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    (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]. Direct written comments 
and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the 
Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Provide 
written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

    Health Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance--Requests and 
Emerging Problems (OMB Control No. 0920-0260, Expiration Date 11/30/
2017)--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 290 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). 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.
    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.
    In approximately 30% of on-site evaluations (presently estimated to 
be 37 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.
    NIOSH administers a follow-back program to assess the effectiveness 
of its HHE program in reducing workplace hazards. 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 month after the final report and requires about 
20 minutes to complete. At 24 months, a third follow-back questionnaire 
is sent which takes about 15 minutes to complete. The first and third 
follow-back questionnaires have had minor re-wording of questions to 
improve the ease of responding with no change in information requested 
or estimated time to complete. The second follow-back questionnaire has 
added new questions regarding final report content and format. This 
accounts for the additional 5 minute increase in estimated completion 
time from the 2014 revision of the second follow-back questionnaire.
    For requests where NIOSH does not conduct an on-site evaluation, 
the requestor receives the first follow-back questionnaire 1 month 
after our report and a second one 12 months after our response. The 
first questionnaire takes about 10 minutes to complete and the second 
questionnaire takes about 15 minutes to complete. No changes other that 
for some minor re-wording of questions have been made. No additional 
information is collected and the time estimates for completion remain 
unchanged.
    Minimal changes have been made to the request form for Health 
Hazard Evaluations. The revisions made in this package are minor re-
wording of questions contained in four of the five follow-back 
questionnaires to improve the ease of responding by the questionnaire 
recipients.
    There is no cost to respondents other than their time. The total 
estimated annual burden hours are 2,959. This is 61 hours less than the 
3,020 hours

[[Page 43547]]

approved for the 2014 revision. This reflects both a slight decrease in 
the anticipated number of Health Hazard Evaluation requests (300 to 
290) as well as changes in the response requirements of requests 
received based upon recent program experience.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
          Type of respondent                      Form               Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employees/employee representatives/or   Health Hazard Evaluation             290               1           12/60
 employers.                              Request Form.
Employees.............................  Health Hazard Evaluation           2,580               1           15/60
                                         specific interview
                                         example.
Employees.............................  Health Hazard Evaluation           3,700               1           30/60
                                         specific question naire
                                         example.
Employees.............................  Employee Contact                   2,150               1            5/60
                                         Postcard.
Follow-back for onsite evaluations--    Initial Site Visit                   244               1           10/60
 employer & employee representative      Followback Survey form.
 Year 1.
Employer & employee representative      Closeout for Health                  244               1           20/60
 Year 1.                                 Hazard Evaluation
                                         Followback Survey with
                                         site visit.
Employer & employee representative      1 Year Later for Health              244               1           15/60
 Year 2.                                 Hazard Evaluation
                                         Followback Survey with
                                         site visit.
Follow-back for evaluations without     Closeout for Health                   98               1           10/60
 onsite--employer & employee             Hazard Evaluation
 representative Year 1.                  without site visit.
Employer & employee representative      1 Year Later for Health               98               1           15/60
 Year 2.                                 Hazard Evaluation
                                         without site visit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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. 2017-19744 Filed 9-15-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P