[Federal Register: June 4, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 107)]
[Notices]
[Page 33493-33494]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04jn03-92]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-03-72]
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 the CDC Reports
Clearance Officer on (404) 498-1210.
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. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24,
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days
of this notice.
Proposed Project
Work-related assaults treated in hospital emergency departments
(0920-0575)--Extension--The National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Workplace violence, both fatal and non fatal, is recognized as an
important occupational safety and health issue. Various data systems
have provided fairly detailed information on fatal workplace violence,
but much less is known about the circumstances and risk factors for
non-fatal workplace violence. A number of strategies have been
suggested for reducing the incidence and severity of workplace violence
in various settings (e.g., taxicabs, health care, law enforcement,
social services), but again, little empirical knowledge exists about
what has been implemented and what impact such strategies may have. The
report, Workplace Violence: A Report to the Nation, published by the
University of Iowa based on recommendations from a workshop of experts
states, ``* * * research focused on a much broader understanding of the
scope and impact of workplace violence is urgently needed to reduce the
human and financial burden of this significant public health problem.''
In 2000, there were 677 workplace homicides in the U.S. From 1993-1999,
there were an estimated 1.7 million nonfatal victimizations ``while at
work or on duty'' every year, accounting for 18 percent of all violent
crime during the seven-year period. In December 2001, Congress directed
NIOSH to ``* * * develop an intramural and extramural prevention
research program that will target all aspects of workplace violence * *
*''
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) maintains a database
of injuries treated in a nationally-representative sample of U.S.
hospital emergency departments (ED) called the National Electronic
Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Data routinely collected through
NEISS include a brief narrative description of the injury event as well
as basic demographic information, intent and mechanism of injury, work-
relatedness, principal diagnosis, part of body affected, location where
the injury occurred, involvement of consumer products, and disposition
at ED discharge. For assaults, summary data are also being collected on
the relationship of the perpetrator to the injured person and the
context (e.g., altercation, robbery, sexual assault, etc.). For work-
related cases, occupation and industry information is collected. The
data system does not, however, include any information on issues such
as the specific workplace circumstances and risk factors for workplace
violence, security measures in place in the workplace and whether they
were utilized/worked appropriately, training in workplace violence risk
factors and prevention strategies, previous incidents of workplace
violence, return to work after assault, and other specific workplace
violence information.
For the last ten years, NIOSH has been collaborating with CPSC to
collect surveillance data on work-related injuries treated in the NEISS
EDs. In addition, NIOSH has utilized the capacity of NEISS to
incorporate follow-back surveys. Follow-back surveys allow collection
of first-hand, detailed knowledge that does not exist in administrative
or other records. CPSC routinely uses this mechanism to collect
information on various types of injuries (e.g., fireworks-related
injuries, injuries to children in baby walkers, etc.). NIOSH has used
this mechanism to collect information on the circumstances of injury,
training, protective equipment (if appropriate), and other issues
important to more fully understanding the risk factors for work-related
injuries and to make appropriate recommendations for preventing other
such injuries in the future.
The current proposed study will consist of a telephone interview
survey of workers treated in NEISS hospital emergency departments for
injuries sustained during a work-related assault over a one-year
period. CPSC will hire a contractor to conduct the actual telephone
interviews. NIOSH will review potential cases to identify those cases
that should be forwarded to the contractor for interview. The survey
includes an extended narrative description of the injury incident as
well as items regarding general workplace organization; personal
characteristics of the worker; work tasks at the time of the assault;
training on workplace violence risk factors and prevention strategies;
security measures in place and how they impacted the outcome of the
incident; medical care received for injuries; time away from work; and
return to work after the assault. This study will provide critical
information for understanding the nature and impact of nonfatal assault
among U.S. workers. In combination with data collected from other
sources, this information will ultimately contribute to the prevention
of violence in the workplace. The only cost to respondents is their
time in participating in the survey.
[[Page 33494]]
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Number of Average burden/
Survey Number of responses/ response Total burden
respondents respondent (hours) (hours)
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Work-related assaults treated in hospital 1,600 1 20/60 533
emergency departments......................
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Total................................... ............... ............... ............... 533
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Dated: May 29, 2003.
Thomas A. Bartenfeld,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-13968 Filed 6-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P