[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
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    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]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P