[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 161 (Friday, August 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51983-51984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21196]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-11-11JZ]


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

    Underreporting of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses by Workers--
New--National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    In 2008, the Congressional Committee on Education and Labor 
released the report, ``Hidden Tragedy: Underreporting of Workplace 
Injuries and Illnesses,'' indicating ``that work-related injuries and 
illnesses in the United States are chronically and even grossly 
underreported.'' This report focused on employer-based reporting of 
occupational injuries and illnesses and the associated underreporting. 
Based in part on the report's results, Congress allocated funds for 
NIOSH to conduct a follow-up study using the NIOSH's occupational 
supplement to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System 
(NEISS-Work) to estimate underreporting among individuals who seek care 
at an ED for an occupational illness, injury, or exposure. NEISS-Work, 
collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), captures 
people who were treated in the emergency department (ED) for work-
related injuries or illnesses.
    Objectives for this project are to (1) assess the reporting 
behavior of workers that are injured, ill, or exposed to a harmful 
substance at work; (2) characterize the chronic aspects of work-related 
injuries or illnesses; and (3) estimate the prevalence of work-related 
chronic injuries and illnesses among United States workers treated in 
emergency departments (EDs). Particular attention will be paid to self-
employed workers, workers with work-related illnesses, and workers with 
chronic health problems.
    Data collection for the telephone interview survey will be done via 
a questionnaire containing questions about the respondent's injury, 
illness, or exposure that sent them to the ED; the characteristics of 
the job they were working when they were injured, became ill, or were 
exposed; their experiences reporting their injury, illness, or exposure 
to the ED and their employer (if applicable); the presence of an 
underlying chronic condition that is associated with their ED visit; 
and the nature of any other work-related chronic conditions they have 
experienced. The questionnaire was designed to take 30 minutes to 
complete. It contains a brief introduction that includes the elements 
of informed consent and asks for verbal consent to be given. The study 
has received a waiver of written informed consent by the NIOSH Human 
Subjects Review Board. The questionnaire includes a brief series of 
questions to screen out individuals who were not seen in the ED for a 
work-related injury, illness, or exposure; who are younger than age 20 
or older than age 64; who do not speak English or Spanish; or who were 
working as volunteers or day laborers when the injury, illness, or 
exposure occurred or was made worse. The informed consent procedure and 
screening questions take approximately five minutes to complete.
    It is estimated that between 1,500 and 3,000 interviews will be 
completed. There is no cost to respondents other than their time.

[[Page 51984]]



                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per     Total burden
                   Respondents                      respondents    responses per   response  (in    (in hours)
                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. workers....................................           3,000               1              .5           1,500
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           1,500
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    Dated: August 15, 2011.
Daniel Holcomb,
Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2011-21196 Filed 8-18-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P