[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 46 (Monday, March 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10863-10867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5789]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement 725]
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Childhood
Agricultural Safety and Health Research, Notice of Availability of
Funds for Fiscal Year 1997
Introduction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces that
applications are being accepted for research on childhood agricultural
safety and health. Projects are sought to conduct research on etiology,
outcomes, and intervention strategies, and to rigorously evaluate the
effectiveness of commonly used educational materials and methods in
preventing childhood agricultural injuries and illnesses. Findings from
these projects are intended to advance the scientific base of knowledge
needed to maximize the safety and health of children exposed to
agricultural production hazards.
CDC is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease
prevention objectives of ``Healthy People 2000,'' a national activity
to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life. This
announcement is related to the priority areas of ``Occupational Safety
and Health'' and ``Unintentional Injuries.'' (For ordering a copy of
``Healthy People 2000,'' see the section Where to Obtain Additional
Information.)
Authority
This program is authorized under the Public Health Service Act, as
amended, Section 301(a) (42 U.S.C. 241(a)) and the Occupational Safety
and Health Act of 1970, Section 20(a) (29 U.S.C. 669(a)). The
applicable program regulation is 42 CFR Part 52.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include non-profit and for-profit
organizations, universities, colleges, research institutions, and other
public and private organizations, including State and local
governments, and small, minority and/or woman-owned businesses.
Note: An organization described in Section 501(c)(4) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which engages in lobbying activities
shall not be eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an
award, grant, contract, loan, or any other form.
Smoke-Free Workplace
CDC strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-
free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products, and
Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in
certain facilities that receive Federal funds in which education,
library, day care, health care, and early childhood development
services are provided to children.
Availability of Funds
About $2,500,000 is available in fiscal year (FY) 1997 to fund
approximately 11 to 15 project grants in four priority research areas:
(1) etiology (3-4 awards); (2) outcomes (3-4 awards); (3) intervention
strategies (3-4 awards); and (4) rigorous evaluations of commonly
available and used childhood educational or training programs to
determine effectiveness in influencing safety and health behaviors and
consequently preventing agricultural injuries and illnesses among
children and adolescents (2-3 awards).
Awards for the first three areas are anticipated to range from
$150,000 to $200,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) per year.
Awards for the fourth priority area are anticipated to range from
$200,000 to $300,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) per year.
[[Page 10864]]
The amount of funding available may vary and is subject to change.
Awards are expected to begin on or about September 30, 1997. Awards
will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period not
to exceed 3 years. Continuation awards within the project period will
be made on the basis of satisfactory progress and availability of
funds.
Background
Agricultural production, which consistently ranks among the
industries with the highest rates of work-related injuries and deaths
in the United States, is unique with respect to children and
adolescents. Compared to nonagricultural industries, coverage and
protections of Federal child labor laws are limited, work by youth
under 14 years of age is common, and childhood exposures to work
hazards are not confined to working youths. Research is needed to
facilitate the appropriate prioritization of efforts to prevent
childhood injuries and illnesses associated with agricultural
production, and expand the knowledge base for the development and
implementation of effective and appropriate intervention strategies.
Federal child labor laws are organized by agricultural and
nonagricultural work. Whereas the minimum age for employment in
nonagricultural industries is 14 years, there are provisions which
allow for agricultural employment of children as young as 10 years of
age. Although work declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor is
prohibited for youths less than 18 years of age in nonagricultural
industries, in agriculture, it is prohibited for youths less than 16
years of age, and only then for youths formally employed off the family
farm. Federal child labor regulations contain a statutory exemption
which permits the children of farmers to perform any job at any age on
a family farm.
Data on employment of youths less than 15 years of age are not
routinely collected or reported. Children less than 15 years of age are
known to work, especially in agriculture. In 1995, an estimated 275,000
youths 16-19 years of age were employed in agriculture, accounting for
4% of working youths in this age group. It is reported that 72% of
these agricultural youth workers were wage and salary workers, 24% were
self-employed, and 5% were unpaid family workers. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) reports 89 agricultural work-related deaths of youths
16-19 years of age for the years 1992-1995, accounting for a
disproportionate 15% of work-related deaths among this age group during
this period. Further, BLS reports 66 agricultural work-related deaths
of youth less than 16 years of age during this period, a group for
which employment data are not available.
An estimated 2,100 injuries serious enough to require time away
from work occurred among working youth l4-19 years of age on farms with
at least 11 employees in 1994. Estimates of serious injuries on farms
with fewer than 11 employees are not available. A couple of studies
have suggested that among youth, work-related injuries in agriculture
tend to be more serious than injuries in other industries. Farm
machinery, stored grain, power lines, manure pits, ponds, and livestock
are among injury hazards in agricultural workplaces.
Children and adolescents may be exposed to agricultural production
hazards not only through work activities, but by virtue of living on a
farm or ranch, accompanying their parents to work, or visiting farms or
ranches. In 1991, an estimated 1.3 million youth less than 20 years of
age resided on farms or ranches. Another 800,000 children lived in
households of hired farm workers. Data from the early 1980s suggested
that 300 children and adolescents die annually from farm injuries, with
about 35% of the deaths occurring among youth less than 9 years of age.
Recent data suggest that about 100,000 children suffer a nonfatal
injury associated with agricultural production each year. The monetary
and social costs of these injuries are unknown, but they are needed to
form and evaluate prevention efforts.
In April 1996, the National Committee for Childhood Agricultural
Injury Prevention (NCCAIP) published a National Action Plan towards
maximizing the safety and health of all children and adolescents who
may be exposed to agricultural hazards. This National Action Plan,
which includes 13 objectives and 43 recommended action steps, was based
on input from 42 members representing the public and private sector.
The National Action Plan calls for funding of research and safety
programs by the Federal government, foundations, agribusiness, and
other private-sector groups.
Congress allocated FY 1997 funds to NIOSH to facilitate the
implementation of this National Action Plan. This announcement and
expected awards are one component in the process of NIOSH
implementation of the National Action Plan. Research studies which
result from this announcement are intended to advance the following
objectives in the proposed National Action Plan: establish guidelines
for children's and adolescents' work in the industry of agriculture;
conduct research on costs, risk factors, and consequences associated
with children and adolescents who participate in agricultural work; use
systematic evaluation to ensure that educational materials and methods
targeted toward childhood agricultural safety and health have
demonstrated positive results; influence adult behaviors which affect
protection of children and adolescents through the use of incentives
and adoption of voluntary safety guidelines; and, provide a protective
and supportive environment for children exposed as bystanders to
agricultural hazards.
Purpose
NIOSH seeks to maximize the safety and health of children and
adolescents exposed to agricultural production hazards by expanding the
knowledge base regarding etiology, outcomes, intervention strategies,
and the effectiveness of commonly utilized educational materials and
methods. Research may address children directly involved in work tasks
and/or other children exposed to agricultural production hazards. The
funded research projects should cover a variety of types of
agricultural production in different geographical regions (e.g. tomato
harvesting in California, dairy farms in Wisconsin, and blueberry
picking in Maine).
Programmatic Interest
The focus of these grants should facilitate progress in maximizing
the safety and health of children and adolescents exposed to
agricultural hazards. The rationale for the significance of the
research and application to the prioritization, development, or
implementation of intervention efforts must be developed in the
proposal. Proposals are being accepted which focus on one of three
research areas (etiology, outcomes, intervention strategies), or that
involve rigorous evaluations of commonly used childhood educational
materials or methods. Applications should identify the focus or foci of
the research proposal (etiology, outcomes, intervention strategies,
evaluation of commonly used childhood educational materials or
methods); types and geographical distribution of agricultural
production which will be addressed, and size and characteristics of
child and adolescent populations which can potentially be impacted by
research findings.
[[Page 10865]]
1. Etiology Research
Etiologic research into contributors to injury and illness among
children in agricultural production settings, with specific attention
to risk factors unique to child and adolescent development e.g.
physical, cognitive and behavioral. Research which can form the
development of age-and developmentally-appropriate guidelines for work
and protection of non-working children are of particular interest.
Potential research areas follow for illustrative purposes only, and
should not be considered boundaries for proposed research questions.
Youths who are still maturing may not meet the anthropometric and
strength requirements of various agricultural machines, tools, personal
protective equipment, and work tasks. Physical maturation and growth
may result in unique susceptibilities to physical and chemical work
exposures. Cognitive requirements of tasks and safe negotiation of
agricultural hazards may exceed cognitive capabilities of children and
adolescents. Feelings of invulnerability, lack of perception of risk,
and a desire to demonstrate competence and independence may contribute
to childhood exposures to agricultural hazards. Fatigue resulting from
balancing demands of school and work, the need for intensive work
during harvest periods, and inadequate sleep may contribute to injury.
Safety awareness and adequate supervision of children and adolescents
may protect children from agricultural injury and illness. Both
laboratory-and field-based research are appropriate for this priority
area of research.
2. Outcomes Research
Research into the consequences, both positive and negative, of
children's and adolescents' involvement in agriculture. Outcomes of
interest include: physical outcomes related to exposure to health
hazards; impact of agricultural injuries on youth's lives and futures;
positive and negative psychosocial outcomes for children; and societal
and economic costs and consequences associated with childhood
agricultural injury. Examples of research efforts which are appropriate
under this priority area include, but are not limited to: studies to
estimate the societal and economic costs and consequences associated
with childhood agricultural injury; assessments of short-and long-term
disability from injuries; assessment of short-and long-term
psychosocial outcomes related to children's and adolescents'
participation in different types of agricultural work; physical
assessments of children and adolescents who have been exposed to
agricultural hazards such as agricultural chemicals, organic dusts,
toxic gases, nitrates, volatile organic compounds, oils and solvents;
and, studies of the impact of noise, vibration, cumulative trauma, and
other work-induced health hazards on children and adolescents
participating in agricultural work.
3. Intervention Strategies Research
Research to form the development and implementation of
interventions to protect children and adolescents from agricultural
injury. This research may include studies into aids and barriers for
implementing a variety of forms of intervention, from control
technology to regulations to behavioral change; the development,
implementation, and evaluation of new and innovative intervention
strategies; and, the relative effectiveness of different intervention
strategies. Examples of research efforts which are appropriate under
this priority area include, but are not limited to: identification of
barriers to implementing prevention measures; identification of
innovative methods for removing barriers; identification of effective
methods to influence positive safety behaviors of farm and ranch owners
and operators, farm workers, parents, caregivers, and manufacturers,
children and adolescents; identification of the types and levels of
incentives that are most likely to influence protection of children;
planning, implementation, and evaluation of structural and machinery
design options to provide a protective environment for children at the
farm work site; design, implementation and evaluation of community-
based programs to enhance the safety and well-being of children who may
be exposed as bystanders to agricultural hazards; studies to determine
the relative effectiveness of education, engineering, voluntary
incentives, and mandatory standards on childhood agricultural injury
reduction.
4. Evaluation of Commonly Used Childhood Educational Materials or
Methods
Rigorous evaluations of commonly available and used education or
training programs to determine effectiveness in influencing safety and
health behaviors and consequently preventing agricultural injuries
among children and adolescents. Existing childhood education or
training programs which require evaluation include, but are not limited
to, school curricula, farm safety day camps, and tractor and/or machine
operator safety certification programs. Research projects need to
include process and outcome evaluations. The process evaluation will
document the implementation of the intervention using the educational
materials and methods, including identification of key activities, and
monitoring delivery of the educational materials and methods to the
target population. Outcomes of interest are exposure to injury hazards,
knowledge about safety hazards, safety and health behaviors, and the
incidence of childhood agricultural injuries. Outcome evaluations
should be based on pre-and post-intervention data. The sustainability
of intervention effects should be assessed over time, and should not be
limited to assessments directly after the delivery of the educational
intervention. The research proposals need to demonstrate that the study
design and size is sufficient to detect intervention effects, and to
evaluate the association of changes in outcome variables with the
intervention versus natural change, extraneous events, etc.
The research needs identified in this announcement are consistent
with the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) developed by
NIOSH and partners in the public and private sectors to provide a
framework to guide occupational safety and health research in the next
decade towards topics which are most pressing and most likely to yield
gains to the worker and the nation. The agenda identifies 21 research
priorities. Research priorities with specific relevance to this
announcement are: traumatic injuries; special populations at risk;
control technology and personal protective equipment; intervention
effectiveness research; and social and economic consequences of
workplace illness and injury. The NORA document is available through
the NIOSH Home Page; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora.html.
Potential applicants with questions concerning the acceptability of
their proposed work are strongly encouraged to contact the technical
information contact listed in this announcement in the section Where to
Obtain Additional Information.
Reporting Requirements
Progress reports are required annually as part of the continuation
application (75 days prior to the start of the next budget period). The
annual progress reports must contain information on accomplishments
during the previous budget period and plans for each remaining year of
the project. Financial status reports (FSR) are required no later than
90 days after the end of the budget period.
[[Page 10866]]
The final performance and financial status reports are required 90
days after the end of the project period. The final performance report
should include, at a minimum, a statement of original objectives, a
summary of research methodology, a summary of positive and negative
findings, and a list of publications resulting from the project.
Research papers, project reports, or theses are acceptable items to
include in the final report. The final report should stand alone rather
than citing the original application. Three copies of reprints of
publications prepared under the grant should accompany the report.
Evaluation Criteria
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by CDC for completeness
and responsiveness. Applications determined to be incomplete or
unresponsive to this announcement will be returned to the applicant
without further consideration. If the proposed project involves
organizations or persons other than those affiliated with the applicant
organization, letters of support and/or cooperation must be included.
Applications that are complete and responsive to the announcement
will be reviewed by an initial review group in which applications will
be determined to be competitive or non-competitive, based on the review
criteria relative to other applications received. Applications
determined to be non-competitive will be withdrawn from further
consideration and the principal investigator/program director and the
official signing for the applicant organization will be promptly
notified. Applications judged to be competitive will be discussed and
assigned a priority score.
Review criteria for technical merit are as follows:
1. Technical significance and originality of proposed project.
2. Appropriateness and adequacy of the study design and methodology
proposed to carry out the project.
3. Qualifications and research experience of the Principal
Investigator and staff, particularly but not exclusively in the area of
the proposed project.
4. Availability of resources necessary to perform the project.
5. Documentation of cooperation from collaborators in the project,
where applicable.
6. Adequacy of plans to include both sexes and minorities and their
subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the project.
(Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be
evaluated.)
7. Appropriateness of budget and period of support.
8. Human Subjects--Procedures adequate for the protection of human
subjects must be documented. Recommendations on the adequacy of
protections include: (1) protections appear adequate and there are no
comments to make or concerns to raise, (2) protections appear adequate,
but there are comments regarding the protocol, (3) protections appear
inadequate and the Initial Review Group has concerns related to human
subjects, or (4) disapproval of the application is recommended because
the research risks are sufficiently serious and protection against the
risks are inadequate as to make the entire application unacceptable.
Secondary review criteria for programmatic importance are as
follows:
1. Results of the initial review.
2. Magnitude of the problem in terms of numbers of workers
affected.
3. Severity of the disease or injury in the worker population.
4. Usefulness to applied technical knowledge in the evaluation, or
control of agricultural safety and health hazards.
5. Degree to which the project can be expected to yield or
demonstrate results that will be useful on a national or regional
basis.
The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
1. Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review.
2. Availability of funds.
3. Program balance among priority areas of the announcement.
4. Program balance among types and geographical distribution of
agriculture.
Executive Order 12372 Review
Applications are not subject to the review requirements of
Executive Order 12372.
Public Health System Reporting Requirement
This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting
Requirements.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.262.
Other Requirements
Human Subjects
The applicant must comply with the Department of Health and Human
Services Regulations, 45 CFR Part 46, regarding the protection of human
subjects. Assurances must be provided to demonstrate that the project
will be subject to initial and continuing review by an appropriate
institutional review committee. The applicant will be responsible for
providing assurance in accordance with the appropriate guidelines and
form provided in the application kit.
Women and Racial and Ethnic Minorities
It is the policy of the CDC to ensure that women and racial and
ethnic groups will be included in CDC-supported research projects
involving human subjects, whenever feasible and appropriate. Racial and
ethnic groups are those defined in OMB Directive No. 15 and include
American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian, Pacific Islander, Black and
Hispanic. Applicants shall ensure that women and racial and ethnic
minority populations are appropriately represented in applications for
research involving human subjects. Where clear and compelling rationale
exist that inclusion is not feasible, this situation must be explained
as part of the application. In conducting the review of applications
for scientific merit, review groups will evaluate proposed plans for
inclusion of minorities and both sexes as part of the scientific
assessment and assigned score. This policy does not apply to research
studies when the investigator cannot control the race, ethnicity and/or
sex of subjects. Further guidance to this policy is contained in the
Federal Register, Vol. 60, No. 179, Friday, September 15, 1995, pages
47947-47951.
Application Submission and Deadlines
A. Preapplication Letter of Intent
Although not a prerequisite of application, a non-binding letter of
intent-to-apply is requested from potential applicants. The letter
should be submitted to the Grants Management Officer (whose address is
reflected in section B, ``Applications''). It should be postmarked no
later than April 10, 1997. The letter should identify the announcement
number, name of principal investigator, and specify the priority area
to be addressed by the proposed project. The letter of intent does not
influence review or funding decisions, but it will enable CDC to plan
the review more efficiently, and will ensure that each applicant
receives timely and relevant information prior to application
submission.
B. Applications
Applicants should use Form PHS-398 (OMB Number 0925-0001) and
adhere
[[Page 10867]]
to the ERRATA Instruction Sheet for Form PHS-398 contained in the Grant
Application Kit. Please submit an original and five copies on or before
June 10, 1997 to: Ron Van Duyne, Grants Management Officer, Grants
Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 321,
MS-E13, Atlanta, GA 30305.
C. Deadlines
1. Applications shall be considered as meeting a deadline if they
are either:
A. Received at the above address on or before the deadline date, or
B. Sent on or before the deadline date to the above address, and
received in time for the review process.
Applicants should request a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or
the U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks shall not be
accepted as proof of timely mailings.
2. Applications which do not meet the criteria above are considered
late applications and will be returned to the applicant.
Where to Obtain Additional Information
To receive additional written information call (404) 332-4561. You
will be asked your name, address, and telephone number and will need to
refer to Announcement 725. You will receive a complete program
description, information on application procedures, and application
forms. In addition, this announcement is also available through the CDC
Home Page on the Internet. The address for the CDC Home Page is http://
www.cdc.gov.
If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained
from Georgia L. Jang, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., MS-E13, Atlanta, GA
30305, telephone (404) 842-6814; fax 404-842-6513; internet:
glj2@cdc.gov.
Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Roy M.
Fleming, Sc.D., Associate Director for Grants, National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Building 1, Room 3053, MS-
D30, Atlanta, GA 30333, telephone 404-639-3343; fax 404-639-4616;
internet: rmf2@cdc.gov.
Please refer to announcement number 725 when requesting information
and submitting an application.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of ``Healthy People 2000''
(Full Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or ``Healthy People 2000''
(Summary Report, Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent
of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325,
telephone (202) 512-1800.
Useful References
The following documents may also provide useful information:
National Committee for Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention.
Children and Agriculture: Opportunities for Safety and Health.
Marshfield, WI: Marshfield Clinic, 1996.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. National
Occupational Research Agenda. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-115.
Dated: March 4, 1997.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 97-5789 Filed 3-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
