Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[INFO-97-14]

Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and

Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on

proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects.

To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a

copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports

Clearance Officer on (404) 639-7090.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information shall have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality,

utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways

to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents,

including through the use of automated collection techniques for other

forms of information technology. Send comments to Wilma Johnson, CDC

Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA

30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this

notice.

Proposed Project

1. Health Hazard Evaluations/Technical Assistance and Emerging

Problems (0920-0260)--Extension--In accordance with its mandates under

the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and the Federal Mine

Safety and Health Act of 1977, the National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health (NIOSH) responds each year to approximately 400

requests for health hazard evaluations to identify potential chemical,

biological, or physical hazards at the workplace. Approximately half of

these requests require that NIOSH conduct a ``short-term'' field study

to adequately address the issues raised by the requestor. Since 1970,

more than 10,000 of these studies have been completed. The main purpose

of these studies is to help employers and employees identify and

eliminate occupational health hazards. Ninety-five percent of these

investigations respond to specific requests for assistance from

employers, employees, employee representatives, or other government

agencies. The remaining investigations are short-term field

investigations initiated by NIOSH because it received information that

a chemical, biological, or a physical agent may be hazardous to

workers. In these studies, NIOSH determines whether they warrant more

detailed studies. Approximately 50% of the field investigations involve

interviews or the administration of a questionnaire to the workers.

Each questionnaire is specific to that worksite and its suspected

diseases and/or hazards; however, questionnaires are derived from

standard medical evaluation techniques. NIOSH distributes interim and

final reports of the investigations, excluding personal identifiers, to

requesters, employers, employee representatives, the Department of

Labor (OSHA and MSHA), and, as appropriate, other state and federal

agencies. Following the completion of field investigations, NIOSH plans

to administer telephone follow-back questionnaires to employer and

employee representatives at each site to assess program effectiveness

and identify areas for improvement. Because of the large volume of

investigations conducted each year, the need to quickly respond to

requests for assistance, and the diverse nature of these

investigations, NIOSH requests clearance for data collection in these

investigations. The total estimated annual cost to respondents is

$40,950.

[[Page 34066]]

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No. of Avg. burden/ Total

Respondents No. of responses/ response (in burden (in

respondents respondent hrs.) hrs.)

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Employees (initial interviews)............................. 4,200 1 .25 1,050

Employees (questionnaires, interviews)..................... 5,250 1 .50 2,625

Employees (follow-back questionnaires)..................... 420 1 .5 210

Employers (follow-back questionnaires)..................... 420 1 .5 210

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Total................................................ ........... ........... ............ 4,095

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Dated: June 18, 1997.

Wilma G. Johnson,

Acting Associate Director for Policy Planning And Evaluation, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 97-16476 Filed 6-23-97; 8:45 am]

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