[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30372-30374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08596]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-24-24ER; Docket No. CDC-2024-0029]


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 Direct Reading Methodologies, Sensors, and Robotics Technology 
Assessment in Lab/Simulator-based Settings. The proposed data 
collection will allow NIOSH to assess the safety and health 
considerations of these rapidly changing direct reading methods, 
sensor, and robotics technologies.

DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before June 24, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2024-
0029 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

    Direct Reading, Sensor, and Robotics Technology Assessment in Lab/
Simulator-based Settings--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, Direct Reading Methodologies, Sensor 
Technologies, and Robotics Technology Assessment in Lab/Simulator-based 
Settings. NIOSH is a Federal institute that operates within the CDC 
specifically dedicated to generating new knowledge in the field of 
occupational safety and health and responsible for transferring that 
knowledge into practice for the betterment of workers. Given NIOSH's 
mission to develop new knowledge, the Institute is uniquely positioned 
to evaluate potential benefits and risks relative to occupational 
safety and health issues of the 21st century workplace, work, and 
workforce--also discussed as the Future of Work (FOW). Areas requiring 
detailed attention and advancement include research and development in 
artificial intelligence, robotics, and sensor technologies. NIOSH has 
established alliances and partnerships with other Federal agencies and 
external partners to collaborate and share technical knowledge to 
improve awareness around workplace hazards and appropriate safeguards 
as it relates to technology. Consequently, NIOSH created two Centers 
charged with leading and coordinating these FOW efforts, with a focus 
on technology assessment and integration in the workplace that revolves 
around emerging recommendations and standards in advancing automation.
    First, in 2014, the NIOSH Center for Direct Reading and Sensor 
Technologies (CDRST) was established to research and develop 
recommendations on the use of 21st century technologies in occupational 
safety and health. Both direct-reading methodologies and sensors are 
used to detect and monitor hazardous conditions, to assess and document 
intervention strategies, and especially to immediately trigger alarms 
in the event of unsafe conditions. Examples of direct reading and 
sensor technologies include real-time personal monitoring, wearable 
monitors, and exoskeletons including wearable robots.
    Second, in 2017, NIOSH established the Center for Occupational 
Robotics Research (CORR) to study the nature of robots in the 
workplace, conduct workplace interventions to prevent robot-related 
worker injuries, and develop guidance for safe interactions between 
humans and robots. There are several common types of robots used in 
occupational environments--traditional industrial robots; professional 
or service robots; collaborative robots; and mobile

[[Page 30373]]

robots (e.g., drones and powered exoskeletons). In most cases, NIOSH 
laboratories including virtual reality (VR) facilities, are used to 
conduct this research in a safe and controlled environment. Within 
these studies, human factors, safety engineering, and test strategies 
are utilized to provide feedback about the utility of various robotics 
technology in the workplace to inform design, as well as possible 
standards.
    Direct reading methodologies, sensor technologies, and robotics 
technology play important roles in advancing automation to keep many 
workers within various industries safe while performing their 
professional duties but rapidly evolve and change in scope and use. 
NIOSH requests a Generic information collection package for assessing 
the safety and health considerations of these rapidly changing direct 
reading methods, sensor, and robotics technologies.
    Different types of data will be collected around these technologies 
including: (1) body function assessments to identify the validity and 
reliability of direct reading, sensor, and robotic technologies; (2) 
physiological assessments to identify the impact of direct reading, 
sensor, and robotic technologies on worker outputs; (3) perceived 
knowledge, attitudes, skills, and other personal attributes to assess 
risks associated with the use and integration of direct reading, 
sensor, and robotics technologies among workers; and (4) barriers that 
workers face while using or interacting with direct reading 
methodologies, sensor technologies, and robotic technologies to prevent 
unintended safety and health consequences--including adoption and 
maintenance challenges. Collectively, this information will be used to 
inform research, development, and integration recommendations to 
advance the nation's FOW needs. These data collection efforts will most 
often occur in controlled laboratory space, including virtual reality 
space that simulates these technologies. In some cases (e.g., survey or 
follow-up interview administration) data collection may occur 
electronically.
    Respondents are expected to be reflective of the full spectrum of 
the U.S. workforce and from industries that rely heavily on direct 
reading methodologies, sensor technologies, and robotics technologies 
to protect workers (e.g., public safety and emergency response, 
manufacturing, retail and trade, construction, mining, and oil and 
gas). Expected respondents include any worker who has experience with, 
is required to use, or willing to use and provide feedback on any sort 
of direct reading method, sensor, or robotics technology in the 
workplace--these could be wearable or non-wearable. Common job roles 
that wear or interact with such technology include construction 
workers, manufacturing workers, oil gas and extraction workers, 
mineworkers, retail workers, maintenance workers, manufacturing 
workers, fire chiefs/firefighters, law enforcement officers, and any 
industrial hygiene or occupational safety and health professional who 
oversees the integration and use of new technologies in the workplace. 
Recruitment for laboratory studies includes individuals from the 
general working population that represent high-hazard industries (e.g., 
construction, manufacturing). These individuals are also all adults 
between the ages of 18 and 65 years.
    CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 205,002 total burden 
hours with an estimated annual burden of 68,334 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 who represent a    Informed Consent.......................           4,000               1            5/60             334
 variety of industrial sectors \1\.
                                                 Pre-Screening Health Questionnaire:               4,000               2           15/60           2,000
                                                  Standardized form with decision logic
                                                  allowing some questions to be omitted.
                                                 Demographics Questionnaire:                       4,000               1           15/60           1,000
                                                  Standardized form with decision logic
                                                  allowing some questions to be omitted.
                                                 Job Survey: Occupational tasks,                   4,000               1           15/60           1,000
                                                  postures used, duration of exposure,
                                                  etc.
                                                 Pre- and Post-Assessments: Determine              4,000               2           15/60           2,000
                                                  changes in knowledge, skills, and
                                                  abilities as it related to efficacy,
                                                  confidence, and perceived competence
                                                  in technology assessment/intervention
                                                  (this could be strictly quantitative
                                                  or semi-structured).
                                                 Anthropometric Measurements: Calipers/            4,000              12            5/60           4,000
                                                  digital measuring of facial and body
                                                  dimensions with and without gear
                                                  (e.g., chest depth; foot breadth with
                                                  and without proper personal protective
                                                  equipment) to assess functional
                                                  integration of wearables and other
                                                  sensors.

[[Page 30374]]

 
                                                 Physiological Measurements:                       4,000               4           60/60          16,000
                                                  Measurements recorded using chest worn
                                                  heart rate monitor strap, blood
                                                  pressure cuff/strap, COSMED Kb5 or
                                                  similar, SQ2020-1F8 temperature
                                                  logger, TOSCA 500 pulse oximeter,
                                                  Koken breathing waveform recording
                                                  mask, MOXY muscle oxygenation strap
                                                  sensor, neurophysiological measures
                                                  including Electroencephalography
                                                  (EEG), and Functional near-infrared
                                                  spectroscopy (fNIRS), etc.
                                                 Perceived Rate of Exertion: using                 3,000              12            5/60           3,000
                                                  validated perceived exertion scales
                                                  (e.g., Borg Ratings).
                                                 Body Function Assessments: Measurements           3,000               6           30/60           9,000
                                                  taken (e.g., on the low back, neck,
                                                  shoulder, arm, etc.) to conduct
                                                  strength testing, range of motion
                                                  testing, reference or maximum
                                                  voluntary exertions, endurance testing
                                                  with different direct reading,
                                                  wearable sensor, and robotics
                                                  technologies.
                                                 Motion Measurement Cameras: Camera with           2,000              12           15/60           6,000
                                                  motion amplification technology (e.g.,
                                                  Iris M, Moasure One, etc.) that can
                                                  measure deflection, displacement,
                                                  movement, and vibration not visible to
                                                  the human eye using biomechanical
                                                  markers for motion capture.
                                                 Perceived Usability Assessments: Close-           4,000               6           10/60           4,000
                                                  and open-ended questions to determine
                                                  system usability including usability
                                                  scales, mental workload, body part
                                                  discomfort, and contact stress
                                                  experiences of new direct reading,
                                                  sensor, and robotics technologies (lab-
                                                   and virtual reality-based).
                                                 Self-Perception Surveys and other                 4,000               6           10/60           4,000
                                                  Structured Questions: Perceived
                                                  comfort level with technology,
                                                  perceived safety and trust level with
                                                  technology, perceived fatigue while
                                                  interacting with technology, etc.
                                                 Biomechanics measurements: Force plate,           2,000               4           30/60           4,000
                                                  strain gauges, stopwatch,
                                                  accelerometers (including
                                                  dataloggers), electromyography sensors
                                                  human/equipment interaction forces,
                                                  whole-body motion, Electromyography
                                                  (EMG) for muscle activity, Near-
                                                  infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for
                                                  muscle oxygenation, etc.
                                                 Task Performance Measures: Measures               2,000              12           15/60           6,000
                                                  recorded using various virtual reality
                                                  systems (e.g., Vive, Meta quest) and
                                                  components (e.g., controllers) that
                                                  quantify the subjects' performance
                                                  such as time to complete, errors,
                                                  movement path, and omissions.
                                                 Eye Tracking Measures: Recorded using             2,000              12           15/60           6,000
                                                  various virtual reality glasses (e.g.,
                                                  Ergoneers) to assess eyes-off-task
                                                  time and recognition in response to
                                                  simulated environments designed to
                                                  assess integration of new robotic
                                                  technologies and design set-up.
                                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 .......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............          68,334
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health 
Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-08596 Filed 4-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P