[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 27834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10792]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-08-07BL]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    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) 639-5960 or send an e-mail 
to [email protected]. Send written comments to CDC Desk Officer, Office of 
Management and Budget, Washington, DC or by fax to (202) 395-6974. 
Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) and Commercial Fishermen: 
Preconceptions and Evaluation in Actual Use--New--National Institute 
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    NIOSH has the responsibility under Public Law 91-596 section 20 
(Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970) to conduct research 
relating to innovative methods, techniques, and approaches for dealing 
with occupational safety and health problems.
    Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the 
United States, with a fatality rate 30 times higher than the national 
average. Most fishermen who die on the job drown subsequent to a vessel 
sinking (51%) or fall overboard (29%). Because drowning is the leading 
cause of death for commercial fishermen, its prevention is one of the 
highest priorities for those who work to make the industry safer.
    The risk of drowning for commercial fisherman is high, yet most 
fishermen do not wear Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) while on deck. 
From 1990 to 2005, 71 commercial fishermen drowned subsequent to a fall 
overboard in Alaska. None of the victims were wearing a PFD, and many 
were within minutes of being rescued when they lost their strength and 
disappeared under the surface of the water.
    Although there are many new styles of PFDs on the market, it is 
unknown how many commercial fishermen are aware of them, or if they are 
more comfortable and wearable than the older styles. There have not 
been any published studies testing PFDs on commercial fisherman to 
measure product attributes and satisfaction.
    The purpose of this study is to first, identify fishermen's 
perceptions of risk, safety attitudes, and beliefs about PFDs; and 
second, to evaluate a variety of modern PFDs with commercial fishermen 
to discover the features and qualities that they like and dislike. This 
study addresses the repeated recommendation by NIOSH that all 
commercial fishermen wear PFDs while on deck.
    NIOSH is requesting OMB approval for 24 months to administer a 
survey to collect data on fishermen's perceptions, attitudes, and 
beliefs. Additionally, NIOSH is requesting approval to involve 
fishermen directly with an evaluation of the wearability of several 
different styles of PFDs during fishing operations.
    This study has the potential to greatly benefit the fishing 
industry. One of the first steps to increasing PFD use among commercial 
fishermen is gaining an understanding of fishermen's reasons for not 
wearing PFDs. With the empirical data at hand, safety professionals may 
be better equipped to address fishermen's concerns and remove the 
barriers that are currently in place.
    Findings from the PFD evaluations will provide manufacturers 
valuable information about commercial fishermen's needs and 
expectations of PFDs. Because the PFD wearability ratings will be 
completed by fishermen during fishing operations, the results may have 
more credibility when they are disseminated to the industry. The PFD 
evaluation will also supply information to fishermen about which types 
of PFDs worked best for different types of fishing operations.
    There are no costs to respondents other than their time. The total 
estimated annualized burden hours are 200.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per     Total burden
               Type of respondent                   respondents    responses per   response  (in       hours
                                                                    respondent        hours)
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Fishermen (Survey)..............................             400               1           20/60             133
Fishermen (Evaluation)..........................             200               2           10/60              67
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............             200
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    Dated: May 8, 2008.
Maryam I. Daneshvar,
Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 [FR Doc. E8-10792 Filed 5-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P