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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 3, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 15885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6139]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-07-06AC]

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 Joan F. Karr, 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

    Low Back Exposure Assessment Tool for Mining--NEW--National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Federal Mine Safety & Health Act of 1977, Section 501, enables 
CDC/NIOSH to carry out research relevant to the health and safety of 
workers in the mining industry. Mining has one of the highest incidence 
rates for back pain of any industry, and back injuries are consistently 
the leading cause of lost work days in the industry. The objective of 
this project is to develop a self-administered, paper and pencil risk 
assessment tool for the development of low back disorders specifically 
directed towards use in the mining industry. Many current methods of 
assessing the risk of low back disorders do not address stressors that 
are relatively unique to the mining environment, including the 
restricted vertical spaces in many coal mines that require workers to 
adopt stooping or kneeling postures for extended periods of their 
workday.
    The low back exposure assessment tool for mining will assess 
various occupational exposures associated with development of back 
disorders in the literature (postural demands, lifting, whole body 
vibration exposure, individual and psychosocial issues), as well as 
specific mining stressors and will develop a score that will be used to 
assess the degree of risk for the job and the individual. The tool will 
be useful in both prioritizing jobs that need interventions to reduce 
low back disorder risk, and in evaluating the effectiveness of 
interventions through tool administration before and after the 
implementation of an intervention. There will be no cost to the 
respondents other than their time.
    Estimated Annualized Burden Hours:

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                                                                  Number of     Average  burden
            Respondents               Number of  respondents    responses per    per  response     Total burden
                                                                  respondent       (in hours)         hours
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Surface and Underground Miners....  320 miners...............               1            15/60               80
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    Dated: March 27, 2007.
Joan F. Karr,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
 [FR Doc. E7-6139 Filed 4-2-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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