[Federal Register: June 2, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 105)]
[Notices]
[Page 32341-32342]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn05-73]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-05-05CB]
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 404-371-5983
and send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail
to omb@cdc.gov.
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. Written comments should be received
within 60 days of this notice.
Proposed Project
Reduce Injury & Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) Risk from Human-
Machine Interaction--New--National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
The Federal Mine Safety & Health Act of 1977, Section 501, enables
CDC/NIOSH to carry out research relevant to the health and safety of
workers in the mining industry. The objective of this project is to
investigate the hazards in underground mines associated with the work
environment and mobile face equipment. Ultimately, this project will
show miners how to reduce the likelihood of these hazards through human
factors, design considerations and/or engineering interventions. The
specific aims of this study are to (1) determine face equipment risk to
the operator, (2) define the information cues operators need to perform
their job tasks, (3) identify the types of changes operators could make
to reduce their exposure from each of the environmental hazards that
affect their safety.
Operating large face equipment is one of the most basic yet
dangerous elements of underground mining operations. A typical room-
and-pillar mining operation involves removal of a 10-ft section of coal
and loading it onto haulage machines, backing the cutting equipment
(continuous miner) out and re-entering the section to remove and load
an additional 10-ft section of coal to produce a 20-ft wide entry.
After removing a section of the coal seam, the continuous miner is
moved to another location and roof support equipment is moved into the
mined section to install roof supports to secure sections of
unsupported roof. Every time the work sequence for a new entry is
completed, moving (tramming) vehicles to the next work location pose
hazards to the operator and their helpers. Tramming face equipment is
usually done in restricted workspace with reduced visibility. The
restricted mine work environment puts the operators and/or helpers in
awkward postures for jobs that require fast reactions to avoid being
struck by the moving machine. Restricted visibility due to the nature
of underground mine environments and low lighting conditions further
complicates the job. If not controlled from the machine cab, a machine
operator typically walks in front of or behind their machine using a
remote control. Unfortunately during the job, operators have the
tendency to step beside their moving machine for a better view, placing
them in a dangerous location. The Mine Safety and Health Administration
accident data from 1999 to 2003 indicate that the coal industry
averages 7,438 incidents per year. Of that total, 18% or an average of
1,312 incidents per year involved mobile face equipment that includes
continuous miners, roof support machines, and haulage vehicles for
underground mines. A substantial proportion (91%) of the 1,312
incidents reported included accident types that occurred while moving
the equipment.
The purpose of this study is to determine which mechanisms cause
injuries to operators of mobile face equipment and find new ways to
reduce injuries, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and accidents.
Industry participation will help researchers in their study to improve
the health and safety of employees in the mining industry, specifically
those who operate and maintain mobile face mining equipment. The
information for this study will be collected by conducting one-on-one
structured interviews with approximately 5 managers and 15 continuous
miner operators at each of 10 mines located throughout the major coal
producing regions of the U.S. This survey will last less than 1 year.
There will be no cost to respondents other than their time.
Estimate of Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of Average burden
Respondents Number of responses per per response Total burden
respondents respondent (in hours) (in hours)
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Mine management (5 persons from 10 mines)... 50 1 30/60 25
Continuous miner operators (15 persons from 150 2 45/60 225
10 mines)..................................
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Total................................... ............... ............... ............... 250
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[[Page 32342]]
Dated: May 26, 2005.
Betsey Dunaway,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-10952 Filed 6-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P