[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50384-50385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18676]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30Day-04-04FF]
Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and
Recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call
the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 498-1210 or send an e-mail
to [email protected]. Send written comments to CDC Desk Officer, Human
Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room
10235, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-6974. Written
comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.
Proposed Project
Workplace Stress Among Underground Coal Miners--New--The National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Work-related stress appears to increase the risk of atherosclerotic
heart disease, musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain and carpal
tunnel syndrome, and clinical depression. The mechanism by which stress
increases the risk of chronic disease states is unknown, but is thought
to involve abnormal communication between the brain and the endocrine
system. Dysfunction of this communication system, called the
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, is found in a number of
chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, diabetes, and
rheumatoid arthritis. In a healthy individual, there is flexible
communication between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, both
located in the brain, and the adrenal gland, located above the kidneys.
When stresses occur throughout the day, cortisol is released from the
adrenal gland in response to signals from the brain. Cortisol prepares
the body to respond to stress, after which cortisol levels return to
normal. Chronic stress, with protracted or repeated challenge to the
HPA axis, may lead to inappropriate levels of cortisol, further decline
of HPA
[[Page 50385]]
axis function, and increased risk of chronic disease.
This study will investigate the relationship between workplace
stress and function of the HPA axis among a sample population of coal
miners. Coal miners experience a number of work-related stresses, such
as long hours of work, heavy workloads, shift work, and concerns about
stability of employment. Miners will be asked to complete a 25-minute
survey which asks about traditional job stressors including shift
schedule and rotation, workload, and degree of control over work. The
survey also addresses stressors not typically examined in work stress
surveys, including time spent in second jobs, commuting time to work,
and responsibilities for care of children and the elderly.
Function of the HPA axis will be assessed by obtaining a series of
cortisol samples from subjects right after they wake up in the morning.
Recent studies have shown that the response of cortisol to awakening,
measured in saliva, serves as a good marker of HPA axis function.
Miners will be asked to obtain saliva samples at home, and send them to
the NIOSH Morgantown laboratory for analysis.
Analyses will examine the relationship between the cortisol
response to awakening, an indicator of HPA axis function, and measures
of workplace stress. Data collected in this study will help NIOSH
determine if workplace stress results in HPA axis dysfunction, which
has been linked to a number of chronic disease conditions. The
estimated annualized burden is 167 hours.
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Average burden
No. of No. responses per
Respondents respondents per respondent
respondent (in hrs.)
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Coal Miners..................................................... 400 1 25/60
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Dated: August 10, 2004.
Alvin Hall,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-18676 Filed 8-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P