[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55559-55561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25911]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-10-09AX]
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
[[Page 55560]]
request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy
of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404-639-5960 and
send comments to Maryam I. Daneshvar, CDC Acting Reports Clearance
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail
to [email protected].
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
National Survey of Long-Haul Truck Driver Injury and Health--New--
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
The mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) is to promote safety and health at work for all people
through research and prevention. The Occupational Safety and Health Act
of 1970, Public Law 91-596 (Section 20[a][1]) authorizes NIOSH to
conduct research to advance the health and safety of workers. In this
capacity, NIOSH will conduct a national survey of long-haul truck
drivers.
Truck drivers are at increased risk for numerous preventable
diseases and health conditions; previous research suggests that truck
drivers are at increased risk for lower back pain, heart disease,
hypertension, stomach ulcers, and cancers of the bladder, lung,
prostate, and stomach. Truck drivers also face extraordinary risk of
on-the-job mortality. In 2007, the fatality rate for ``driver/sales
workers and truck drivers'' was 28.2 per 100,000 workers, compared with
a rate of 3.8 per 100,000 for all workers. Drivers of heavy and
tractor-trailer trucks had more fatal work injuries than any other
single occupation (822 deaths in 2007).
Truck drivers experience high rates of occupational injury and
illness, but little is known about the prevalence of factors suspected
to place them at increased risk. Information is needed on the role of
occupation in driver health and on mechanisms of driver injuries. In
evaluating the potential health effects of the 2005 hours-of-service
ruling, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration stated that due
to a lack of evidence specific to trucking operations, information from
different fields had to be adapted to a trucking environment. Research
needs cited by stakeholders include detailed data on the prevalence of
selected health conditions and risk factors among truck drivers, and
data on working conditions, injury causes and outcomes, and health
behaviors.
NIOSH has obtained input on plans for this survey through
stakeholder meetings, a webinar, an Internet blog, and from comments
received through NIOSH Docket 110 and during a focus group discussion
with 7 truck drivers. The survey instrument has been reviewed by 6
subject matter experts and 9 cognitive interviews have been conducted
using the survey instrument. Input received was used to guide
development of the survey instrument and plans for survey
implementation. Subjective data on understanding and phrasing of
questions were collected during the focus group discussion and
cognitive interviews.
The proposed national survey will be based upon a probability
sample of truck stops. The survey will be conducted at locations along
freight corridors in 5 geographic regions (Northeast, South, Great
Lakes, Central, and West). The number of locations to be visited within
each region will be related to the traffic load in that region.
Eligible truck drivers stopping at selected truck stops will provide
all survey data. The major objectives of the survey will be to: (1)
Determine the prevalence of selected health conditions and risk
factors; (2) characterize drivers' working conditions, occupational
injuries, and health behaviors; (3) explore the associations among
health status, individual risk factors, occupational injuries and
occupational exposures related to work organization. The survey will
eliminate significant gaps in occupational safety and health data for
long-haul truck drivers. The results will assist regulatory agencies in
focusing rulemaking, furnish industry and labor with safety and health
information needed by their constituents, and stimulate future research
and advocacy to benefit truck drivers.
The target population of drivers for this survey will be limited to
drivers who: Have truck driving as their main job; drive a heavy truck
(class 8 vehicle over 26,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight); sleep away
from home at least one night per delivery run; and who have been a
heavy truck driver 12 months or longer.
The study instrument will be interviewer-administered to
approximately 2,400 eligible truck drivers at 50 truck stops.
Individuals will first be asked a series of questions to determine if
they are eligible to participate in the survey, followed by
administration of the main interview. Respondents will not be asked to
report names or any other identifying information.
The project supports the NIOSH surveillance function to advance the
usefulness of surveillance information for the prevention of
occupational injuries, illnesses, and hazards, and actively promoting
the dissemination and use of NIOSH surveillance data and information.
This survey will allow NIOSH to explore the inter-relationships among
dimensions of health status, individual risk factors, occupational
injuries, sleep disorders, and occupational exposures. It will also
provide detailed demographic data on long-haul truck drivers, which
have not been available previously, and could provide baseline data to
inform future cohort and prospective studies.
NIOSH will use the information to calculate prevalence and
customize safety and health interventions for long-haul truck drivers.
Once the study is completed, results will be made available via various
means. NIOSH expects to complete data collection no later than Fall of
2010. There is no cost to respondents other than their time.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of Avg. burden
Type of respondent Form name Number of responses per per response Total burden
respondents respondent (in hours) (in hours)
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Truck Drivers................. Screening 3000 1 3/60 150
Interview.
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Main Interview.. 2400 1 40/60 1600
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Total..................... ................ .............. .............. .............. 1750
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Dated: October 22, 2009.
Maryam I. Daneshvar,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
[FR Doc. E9-25911 Filed 10-27-09; 8:45 am]
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