[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 137 (Friday, July 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38676-38677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19112]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

AGENCY: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be 
provided in the desired format, reporting burden is minimized, 
reporting forms are clearly understood, and the impact of collection 
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed revision of the ``Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.'' A 
copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the addresses 
section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before September 15, 1998.
    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments which:
    <bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    <bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, D.C. 20212. For further 
information contact Ms. Kurz on 202-605-7628 (this is not a toll free 
number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was delegated responsibility 
by the Secretary of Labor for implementing Section 24(a) of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. This section states the 
``the Secretary shall compile accurate statistics on work injuries and 
illnesses which shall include all disabling, serious, or significant 
injuries and illnesses * * *''
    Prior to the implementation of the Census of Fatal Occupational 
Injuries (CFOI), BLS generated estimates of occupational fatalities for 
private sector employers from a sample survey of about 280,000 
establishments. Studies showed that occupational fatalities were 
underreported in those estimates as well as those compiled by 
regulatory, vital statistics, and workers' compensation systems. 
Estimates varied widely between 3,000 and 10,00 annually. In addition, 
information needed to develop prevention strategies was often missing 
form these earlier programs.
    In the late 1980s, the National Academy of Sciences study, Counting 
Injuries and Illnesses in the Workplace, and the report, Keystone 
National Policy Dialogue on Work-Related Illness and Injury 
Recordkeeping, emphasized the need for BLS to compile a complete roster 
of work-related fatalities because of concern over the accuracy of 
using a sample survey to estimate the incidence of occupational 
fatalities. These studies also recommended the use of all available 
data sources to compile detailed information for fatality prevention 
efforts.
    BLS tested the feasibility of collecting fatality data in this 
manner in 1989 and 1990. The resulting CFOI was implemented in 32 
States in 1991. National data covering all 50 States and the District 
of Columbia was compiled and published for 1992-1996, approximately 
eight months after each calendar year.
    The CFOI compiles comprehensive, accurate, and timely information 
on work-injury fatalities needed to develop effective prevention 
strategies. The system collects information concerning the incident, 
demographic information on the deceased, and characteristics of the 
employer.
    Data are used to:

--develop employee safety training programs;
--develop and assess the effectiveness of safety standards;
--conduct research for developing prevention strategies; and
--compare fatalities between States.

    In addition, States use the data to publish State reports, to 
identify State-specific hazards, to allocate resources for promoting 
safety in the workplace, and to evaluate the quality of work life in 
the State.

II. Current Actions

    In 1996, 6,112 workers lost their lives as a result of injuries 
received on the job. This official systematic, verifiable count mutes 
controversy over the various counts from different sources. The CFOI 
count has been adopted by the National Safety Council and other 
organizations as the sole source of a comprehensive count of fatal work 
injuries for the U.S. If this information were not collected, the 
confusion over the number and patterns in fatal occupational injuries 
would continue, thus hampering prevention efforts. By providing timely 
occupational fatality data, the CFOI program provides safety and health 
managers the information necessary to respond to emerging workplace 
hazards.
    In 1997, BLS Washington staff responded to over 3,000 requests for 
CFOI data from various organizations. (This figure excludes requests 
received by the States for State-specific data.) In addition, BLS 
Washington staff responded to numerous requests from safety 
organizations for staff members to participate in safety conferences 
and seminars. The CFOI research file, made available to safety and 
health groups, is being used by 50 organizations to conduct studies on 
specific topics, such as protective equipment use, forklift injuries, 
tractor-trailer tipovers, powerline electrocutions, homicides, 
construction industry falls, highway construction, and logging and 
forestry fatalities. (A current list of research articles and reports 
that include CFOI data can be found in BLS Report 922,

[[Page 38677]]

dated June 1998, Appendix H. Copies of this report are available upon 
request.)
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.
    OMB Number: 1220-0133.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, Business or other for-
profit, Not-for-profit-institutions, Farms, Federal Government, State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 2,665.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 11 Minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,000 Hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the ICR; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 13th day of July, 1998.
Karen A. Krein,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 98-19112 Filed 7-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M