[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27154-27155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09784]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-22-22ER; Docket No. CDC-2022-0057]


Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice with comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part 
of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the 
utility of government information, invites the general public and other 
federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed information 
collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This 
notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project 
titled Formative Respirator and Personal Protective Clothing Laboratory 
Testing. NIOSH proposes using questionnaires, physiological monitoring/
measurements, anthropometric measurements, respirator fit measurements, 
self-perception data, and biomechanical measurements to assess gaps in 
respirator and personal protective clothing use among the Unites States 
working population.

DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before July 5, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2022-
0057 by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road 
NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and Docket Number. CDC will post, without change, all relevant comments 
to www.regulations.gov.
    Please note: Submit all comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
portal (www.regulations.gov) or by U.S. mail to the address listed 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan 
and instruments, contact Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection 
Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton 
Road NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329; Telephone: 404-639-7570; 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires 
federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register 
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each new 
proposed collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of 
information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information 
collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To 
comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a 
proposed data collection as described below.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:
    1. 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;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    4. 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 
submissions of responses; and
    5. Assess information collection costs.

Proposed Project

    Formative Respirator and Protective Clothing Laboratory Testing--
New--National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), is requesting 
approval of a new generic information collection for a period of three 
years under the project titled Formative Respirator and Personal 
Protective Clothing Laboratory Testing.
    The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) is a 
division of NIOSH, which operates within the CDC. NIOSH is the federal 
institute specifically dedicated to generating new knowledge in the 
field of occupational safety and health and is responsible for 
transferring that knowledge into practice for the betterment of 
workers.
    NPPTL was established in 2001, at the request of Congress, with the 
mission of preventing disease, injury, and death for the millions of 
working men and women relying on personal protective technology (PPT). 
PPT plays an important role in keeping many workers within various 
industries safe while performing their professional duties. To achieve 
their mission, NPPTL conducts scientific research, develops guidance 
and authoritative recommendations, disseminates information, and 
responds to requests for workplace health hazard evaluations. The 
development of NPPTL filled a need for improved PPT and focused 
research into PPT.
    Respiratory protection is the cornerstone of NPPTL's efforts. One 
of the primary responsibilities of NPPTL is to test and approve 
respirators used in U.S. occupational settings. This function ensures a 
standard level of quality and filtration efficiency for all respirators 
used within a U.S. workplace setting. The NPPTL Respirator Approval 
Program exists to increase the level of worker protection from airborne 
particulates, chemicals, and vapors.
    In addition to respirators, NPPTL conducts research on other types 
of PPT, including chemical-resistant clothing, hearing protection, 
gloves, eye and face protective devices, hard hats, sensors to detect 
hazardous substances, and communication devices used for safe 
deployment of emergency workers. The NPPTL's PPT research examines 
exposure to inhalation hazards, dermal hazards, and any other hazardous 
environmental threats within an occupational setting.
    PPT performance requirements and test methods are specified within: 
(1) Federal regulations by NIOSH, the Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA), and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA); and (2) 
voluntary consensus

[[Page 27155]]

standards published by organizations such as the American National 
Standards Institute (ANSI), American Society for Testing and Materials 
(ASTM) International, and International Organization for 
Standardization (ISO). Thus, the information collected from human 
subjects in a laboratory setting is generally consistent across NPPTL 
studies with only the boundary conditions changing (e.g., environmental 
conditions such as heat or humidity, human subject activity such as 
simulated surgery or climbing a ladder, and distance between two 
subjects communicating by spoken word). Additionally, novel PPT designs 
may be examined or compared to commercially available products under 
similar boundary conditions to examine adherence to regulations and/or 
standards. NPPTL requests a new Generic information collection package 
for laboratory-collected information for testing respirators and 
personal protective clothing.
    NIOSH estimates that up to 1,500 individuals could be burdened per 
year. Recruitment for all laboratory studies includes individuals from 
the general population rather than specific industries or working 
status. These individuals are all adults between the ages of 18 and 65 
years. CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 11,903 annual burden 
hours. There is no cost to respondents other than their time to 
participate.

                                                            Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                                             Number of    Average burden
            Type of respondents                               Form name                      Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                                                            respondents     respondent      (in hours)      (in hours)
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Members of the general public.............  Informed Consent............................             470               1           30/60             235
                                            Health Screening Questionnaire..............             470               6               1            2820
                                            Demographics Questionnaire..................             470               1           30/60             235
                                            Job-related Data: Occupational Tasks,                    470               1           15/60             118
                                             postures used, duration of exposure.
                                            Physiological Measurements: Chest-worn heart             200               6             1.5            1800
                                             rate monitor strap, COSMED Kb5, SQ2020-1F8
                                             temperature logger, TOSCA 500 pulse
                                             oximeter, koken breathing waveform
                                             recording mask.
                                            Biological Measurements: Cortisol (stress)               100               6           15/60             150
                                             levels, pregnancy tests, hydration status,
                                             lipids, inflammatory markers, heat shock
                                             proteins.
                                            Anthropometric Measurements: Calipers/                   500               1           15/60             125
                                             digital measuring of facial and body
                                             dimensions.
                                            Respirator Fit Measurements: Filter                      225             100           15/60           5,625
                                             cassettes with air pumps, fit-testing
                                             equipment, QLFT/sodium saccharin solution.
                                            Self-Perception Data: Level of exertion,                 500               6           15/60             750
                                             perceived comfort level, heat sensation,
                                             fatigue.
                                            Biomechanics Measurements: Force plate,                   30               3           30/60              45
                                             stopwatch, accelerometers.
                                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.................................  ............................................  ..............  ..............  ..............          11,903
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2022-09784 Filed 5-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P