[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10696-10698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03652]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-20-20HO; Docket No. CDC-2020-0017]
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and
Recommendations
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice with comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part
of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the
utility of government information, invites the general public and other
Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed and/or
continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed
information collection project titled Heat-related Changes in Cognitive
Performance. The purpose of this study is to collect information on
burden of heat strain among miners as well as factors related to
personal risk and core body temperature that contribute to individual
variability in heat tolerance and to declines in heat-related worker
performance.
DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before April 27, 2020.
[[Page 10697]]
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2020-
0017 by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road
NE, MS-D74, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and Docket Number. CDC will post, without change, all relevant comments
to Regulations.gov.
Please note: Submit all comments through the Federal
eRulemaking portal (regulations.gov) or by U.S. mail to the address
listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan
and instruments, contact Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection
Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton
Road NE, MS-D74, Atlanta, Georgia 30329; phone: 404-639-7570; Email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they
conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires Federal agencies
to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each
proposed collection of information, including each new proposed
collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of
information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information
collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To
comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a
proposed data collection as described below.
The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:
1. 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;
2. 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;
3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
4. 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.
5. Assess information collection costs.
Proposed Project
Heat-related Changes in Cognitive Performance--New--National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
NIOSH, under Public Law 91-173 as amended by Public Law 95-164
(Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977), and PL 109-236 (Mine
Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006) has the
responsibility to conduct research to improve working conditions and to
prevent accidents and occupational diseases in U.S. mines. Heat strain
is one of these occupational diseases and is an increasing problem
among many industries, including mining. As mines expand into deeper
and hotter environments, and as heat waves occur with increasing
frequency and severity, heat strain among underground and surface
miners is likely to increase. Not only can heat strain lead to heat
illness, but studies have demonstrated associations between heat
exposure and work injuries. Although the underlying mechanism between
heat exposure and injury is not known, reduced cognitive function is
likely contributory.
Despite the increasing importance of heat strain in mining, few
studies have focused on heat strain among U.S. miners. The few studies
that are available have demonstrated that miners often exceed a core
body temperature of 38[deg]C during work activities, which is above the
recommended threshold, but more information on frequency, duration, and
intensity of elevated core body temperatures is needed in order to
focus future heat strain research to better serve the mining industry.
In addition to determining the patterns of duration and intensity
of heat strain among U.S. miners, investigating the additional effects
of heat strain beyond the risk of heat illness is an important step in
improving miner health and safety. Studies have demonstrated
associations between heat stress and cognitive deficits, but
substantial inter- and intra-individual variability exists in the
physiologic and cognitive responses to heat exposure. More information
is needed about the most important factors (e.g., age, sex, chronic
disease, fitness level, hydration) contributing to individual
variability as well as interactions between these factors, because
individual variability likely affects the usefulness of one-size-fits-
all heat stress indices that are currently used in mining.
Additionally, it is unclear which characteristics of core body
temperature (e.g., absolute temperature thresholds vs. rising or
falling temperatures vs rate of temperature change) are most associated
with cognitive dysfunction. A better understanding of how individual
variability and core body temperature relate to cognitive deficits
would assist in developing strategies for screening and monitoring
miners to mitigate or prevent heat strain. Therefore, this study aims
to assess the following objectives: (1) Whether a core body temperature
threshold exists at which cognitive performance begins to decline, (2)
What factors most contribute to individual variability in cognitive and
physiologic responses to heat, and (3) What patterns of duration and
intensity of heat strain are most common among U.S. surface and
underground miners.
To study these objectives, a dual-arm field and laboratory study
will be conducted. The field study will be conducted at surface and
underground mines. Data will be collected from miners working in warm
or hot areas of participating mines. Participants will swallow
temperature pills to measure core body temperature and will wear bio-
harnesses to measure heart rate. Two six-minute assessments will be
taken during each shift. The assessments include questions on
sleepiness and work tasks and a Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) to
assess vigilant attention and reaction time. An initial screening
questionnaire as well as post-shift questionnaires will be used to
obtain information on risk factors for heat strain and cognitive
deficits. The purpose of collecting data at the field sites is to
evaluate the frequency, duration, and intensity of heat strain by
monitoring core body temperature and heart rate throughout two complete
shifts, as well as to assess associations between core body temperature
and cognitive deficits.
The laboratory study will be conducted in an environmental chamber,
in which environmental conditions can be highly controlled. Data will
be collected from miners, construction workers, and firefighters. These
three groups were chosen because of their risk of heat exposure and
their proximity to the NIOSH laboratory
[[Page 10698]]
where the study will be conducted. Participants will perform
alternating resistance and aerobic exercises followed by brief surveys
to evaluate sleepiness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale), affect (Positive
and Negative Affect Schedule), and fatigue. Following these surveys,
two cognitive tests (PVT and N-back, which measures vigilance, working
memory, and complex tracking) will be administered. Testing will occur
at room temperature and in hot conditions to compare cognitive test
results between conditions. Participants will swallow temperature pills
and wear bio-harnesses to enable the collection of real-time core body
temperature and heart rate data. An initial health screening
questionnaire as well as additional questionnaires administered prior
to each test will be used to ensure that participants are able to
withstand the physical demands of testing and to provide information on
factors that affect individual variability to heat tolerance.
Additionally, a physical examination and fingerstick blood tests will
be used for health screening. The purpose of collecting data in the
environmental chamber is to compare physiologic and cognitive
measurements at different core body temperatures to evaluate factors
contributing to individual variability in cognitive and physiologic
responses to heat and to evaluate whether core body temperature
thresholds exist above which cognitive deficits are observed.
The total estimated burden hours are 109 for the field study and 77
for the environmental chamber study for a total of 186. There are no
costs to respondents other than their time.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Average
Number of Number burden per Total burden
Type of respondent Form name respondents responses per response (hours)
respondent (hours)
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Miners........................ Informed consent 59 1 30/60 30
form (field).
Initial health 59 1 30/60 30
screening
questionnaire
(field).
Mid-shift field 59 4 1/60 4
questionnaire.
PVT cognitive 59 5 5/60 25
test.
Post-shift field 59 2 10/60 20
questionnaire.
Miners/firefighters/ Informed consent 30 1 30/60 15
construction workers. form (chamber).
Physical 30 1 10/60 5
examination
form.
Initial health 30 1 30/60 15
screening
questionnaire
(chamber).
Release of 5 1 1/60 1
information
form.
TSS and RPE..... 30 5 1/60 3
PANAS and KSS... 30 5 2/60 5
Cognitive test: 30 5 10/60 25
PVT.
Cognitive test: 30 5 1/60 3
N-back.
Pre-testing 30 2 5/60 5
health
questionnaire.
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Total..................... ................ .............. .............. .............. 186
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2020-03652 Filed 2-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P