[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28788-28789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12172]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60-Day-11-11FE]
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 404-639-5960
and send comments to Daniel Holcomb, CDC 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
Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) Intervention Effectiveness in
Wholesale/Retail Trade Operations--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. Under Public Law 91-596, sections 20
and 22 (Section 20-22, Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970),
NIOSH has the responsibility to conduct research to advance the health
and safety of workers. In this capacity, NIOSH proposes to conduct a
study to assess the effectiveness and cost-benefit of occupational
safety and health (OSH) interventions for musculoskeletal disorders
(MSDs) among wholesale/retail trade (WRT) workers.
In 2008, MSDs accounted for $15.2 billion or 28% of total direct
workers compensation costs of illnesses or injuries in private
industry. The WRT industry sector employs over 21 million workers or
19% of the workforce in private industry. MSDs accounted for 28% of the
total non-fatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work
(DAW) in the WRT sector in 2008. The majority (91%) of these severe MSD
cases were associated with overexertion during material handling.
Identifying effective controls to reduce overexertion MSDs is a key
step in reducing the overall injury/illness burden in the WRT sector.
It follows that major NIOSH strategic goals in the WRT sector are to
reduce MSDs in part, by assessing the effectiveness and cost-benefit of
interventions. Most prior MSD intervention effectiveness studies have
been quasi-experimental designs focused on short term workload
assessments as outcomes. The studies have also been mixed in quality
and findings. There is a clear need to conduct rigorous experimental
research to define further the effectiveness and cost-benefit of MSD
control interventions. A renewed partnership between NIOSH and the Ohio
Bureau of Workers Compensation (OBWC) provides a timely opportunity to
conduct such research in a relevant and efficient manner.
For the current study, NIOSH and the OBWC will collaborate on a
multi-site intervention study at OBWC-insured WRT companies from 2011-
2014. In overview, MSD engineering control interventions [stair-
climbing, powered hand trucks (PHT) and powered truck lift gates (TLG)]
will be tested for effectiveness in reducing self-reported back and
upper extremity pain among 960 employees performing delivery operations
in 72 WRT establishments using a prospective experimental design
(multiple baselines across groups with randomization). These
interventions were chosen because prior OBWC pilot studies indicated
the interventions had a high level of acceptability to target employees
and initial high effectiveness in reducing MSD risk factors and
potential future MSDs. The costs of the interventions will be funded
through existing OBWC funds and participating establishments. This
study will provide important information that is not currently
available elsewhere on the effectiveness of OSH interventions for WRT
workers. This project fits the mission of CDC-NIOSH to conduct
scientific intervention effectiveness research to support the evidenced
based prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses.
For this study, the target population (people, groups or workplaces
which might benefit from the MSD interventions being tested) includes
United States WRT establishments (North American Industry
Classification System codes 42-45) performing delivery operations. The
sampling frame (segment of the target population) includes OBWC-insured
WRT establishments performing delivery operations. The study sample
(people, work groups or workplaces chosen from the sampling frame)
includes OBWC-insured WRT establishments who volunteer to participate
in the OBWC-NIOSH collaboration research project.
Twenty-four OBWC-insured WRT establishments will be recruited from
each of three total employee categories (<20 employees, 20-99
employees, and 100+ employees) for a total of 72 establishments with
3,240 employees. The study sub-sample (people, work groups or
workplaces chosen from the sampling frame) will be volunteer employees
at OBWC-insured WRT establishments who perform material handling tasks
related to the delivery
[[Page 28789]]
operations of large items (such as appliances, furniture, vending
machines, furnaces, or water heaters) that are expected to be impacted
by the powered hand truck (PHT) and truck lift gate (TLG)
interventions. It is estimated that there will be 960 impacted
employees in the recruited establishments, which will be paired
according to previous WC loss history and establishment size. Within
each pair, one establishment will be randomly chosen to receive the PHT
or TLG intervention in the first phase, and the other will serve as a
matched control until it receives the same intervention 12 months
later.
The main outcomes for this study are self-reported low back pain
and upper extremity pain collected using surveys every three months
over a two-year period from volunteer WRT delivery workers at
participating establishments. Individuals will also be asked to report
usage of the interventions and material handling exposures every three
months over two years. Individuals will also be asked to complete an
annual health assessment survey at baseline, and once annually for two
years. A 20% sample of survey participants will also be asked to
participate in a clinical assessment of low back function at baseline,
and once annually for two years. In order to maximize efficiency and
reduce burden, a Web-based survey is proposed for the majority (95%) of
survey data collection. All collected information will be used to
determine whether there are significant differences in reported
musculoskeletal pain and functional back pain score ratios (pre/post
intervention scores) when intervention and control groups are compared,
while controlling for covariates. Once the study is completed, results
will be made available through the NIOSH Internet site and peer-
reviewed publications.
In summary, this study will determine the effectiveness of the
tested MSD interventions for WRT delivery workers and enable evidence
based prevention practices to be shared with the greatest audience
possible. NIOSH expects to complete data collection in 2014. 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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Delivery Workers in Wholesale/ Self-reported 960 9 5/60 720
Retail Trade (WRT) Operations. low back pain.
Self-reported 960 9 5/60 720
upper extremity
pain.
Self-reported 960 9 5/60 720
specific job
tasks and
safety
incidents.
Self-reported 960 3 10/60 480
general work
environment and
health.
Informed Consent 960 1 5/60 80
Form (Overall
Study).
Low Back 192 3 20/60 192
Functional
Assessment.
Informed Consent 960 1 5/60 80
Form (Low Back
Functional
Assessment).
Early Exit 106 1 5/60 9
Interview.
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Total..................... ................ .............. .............. .............. 3,001
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Dated: May 12, 2011.
Daniel Holcomb,
Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2011-12172 Filed 5-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P