[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58734-58736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15966]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-24-24ER]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information 
collection request titled ``Direct Reading, Sensor, and Robotics 
Technology Assessment in Lab/Simulator-based Settings'' to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously 
published a ``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations'' notice on insert April 23, 2024, to obtain comments 
from the public and affected agencies. CDC did not receive comments 
related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an 
additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.
    CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information 
collection project. 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. Comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 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

    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 is 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 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

[[Page 58735]]

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 collection 
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.
    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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
          Type of respondents                   Form name            Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Members of the general public who       Informed Consent........           4,000               1            5/60
 represent a variety of industrial      Pre-Screening Health               4,000               2           15/60
 sectors (Age 18-65).                    Questionnaire:
                                         Standardized form with
                                         decision logic allowing
                                         some questions to be
                                         omitted.
                                        Demographics                       4,000               1           15/60
                                         Questionnaire:
                                         Standardized form with
                                         decision logic allowing
                                         some questions to be
                                         omitted.
                                        Job Survey: Occupational           4,000               1           15/60
                                         tasks, postures used,
                                         duration of exposure,
                                         etc.
                                        Pre- and Post-                     4,000               2           15/60
                                         Assessments: Determine
                                         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                     4,000              12            5/60
                                         Measurements: Calipers/
                                         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.
                                        Physiological                      4,000               4           60/60
                                         Measurements:
                                         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                  3,000              12            5/60
                                         Exertion: using
                                         validated perceived
                                         exertion scales (e.g.,
                                         Borg Ratings).
                                        Body Function                      3,000               6           30/60
                                         Assessments:
                                         Measurements 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                 2,000              12           15/60
                                         Cameras: Camera with
                                         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                4,000               6           10/60
                                         Assessments: Close- 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).

[[Page 58736]]

 
                                        Self-Perception Surveys            4,000               6           10/60
                                         and other Structured
                                         Questions: Perceived
                                         comfort level with
                                         technology, perceived
                                         safety and trust level
                                         with technology,
                                         perceived fatigue while
                                         interacting with
                                         technology, etc.
                                        Biomechanics                       2,000               4           30/60
                                         measurements: Force
                                         plate, 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                   2,000              12           15/60
                                         Measures: Measures
                                         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:             2,000              12           15/60
                                         Recorded using 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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. 2024-15966 Filed 7-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P