[Federal Register: April 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 75)]
[Notices]               
[Page 20877-20878]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ap04-66]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-04-41]

 
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) 498-1210.
    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 or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Sandra Gambescia, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E11, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Accommodation of Hearing-Impaired Workers--New--National Institute 
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).

Background

    CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health mission 
is to promote safety and health at work for all people through research 
and prevention. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an 
evaluation and intervention protocol that can be used to accommodate 
the special needs of

[[Page 20878]]

noise-exposed, hearing-impaired workers so that they can continue to 
perform their jobs safely while preventing additional hearing loss. 
Three General Motors (GM) manufacturing plants have agreed to 
participate in the field-testing phase of this project as part of the 
Memorandum of Understanding between NIOSH, the General Motors 
Corporation and the International Union, United Automotive, Aerospace 
and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) which was signed on 
October 23, 2000. Beginning in 2002 and continuing into 2003, the field 
study proposal was developed in consultation with representatives from 
GM and the UAW from each of the three plants. The field study is 
scheduled to begin during 2004 and to conclude during 2005.
    One hundred noise-exposed, hearing-impaired workers will be 
enrolled in the study. Participants will complete the necessary release 
of information forms, receive a clinical hearing evaluation and case 
history interview by a certified audiologist to identify the type of 
hearing protection most appropriate for them, and be provided with this 
protector for use in their actual job. As part of the impact and 
evaluation component of this project, each study participant will fill 
out a 36-item pre-intervention Hearing Protection Device (HPD) 
Questionnaire at the time he or she enrolls in the study. The HPD 
Questionnaire is an expansion of a previously approved HPD 
questionnaire (OMB NO. 0920-0552) which was developed in 1999 by NIOSH 
researchers. The post-intervention HPD Questionnaire will be mailed to 
each participant along with the 7-item Post-Intervention Questionnaire 
following a one-year trial with the study HPD. NIOSH researchers will 
use this information to assess the success of the evaluation and HPD 
selection protocol, and make recommendations to hearing health 
professionals and hearing conservation program managers, regarding the 
auditory management of noise-exposed, hearing-impaired workers. This 
request is for 2 years. There is no cost to respondents.

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                                                                    No. of        Avg. burden/
                 Respondents                       No. of         responses/     response  (in     Total burden
                                                respondents      respondents          hrs)            hours
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Release of Information (GM to NIOSH)........              100                1             5/60                8
Release of Information (Clinic to NIOSH)....              100                1             5/60                8
Contact Information Card....................              100                1             2/60                3
HPD Questionnaire (pre-intervention)........              100                1            15/60               25
HPD Questionnaire (post-intervention).......              100                1            15/60               25
Case History................................              100                1            10/60               17
Telephone Follow-Up.........................              100                6             7/60               70
Post-Intervention Questionnaire.............              100                1            10/60               17
                                             ------------------
    Total...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............              173
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    Dated: April 12, 2004.
Diane Allen,
Acting Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-8754 Filed 4-16-04; 8:45 am]

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