[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:
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;
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;
Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
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
