Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority, 60529 [05-20790]

Agencies

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 60529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20790]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part C (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of the 
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of 
the Department of Health and Human Services (45 FR 67772-76, dated 
October 14, 1980, and corrected at 45 FR 69296, October 20, 1980, as 
amended most recently at 70 FR 58431-58432, dated October 6, 2005) is 
amended to reorganize the National Personal Protective Technology 
Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
    Section C-B, Organization and Functions, is hereby amended as 
follows:
    After the title for the National Personal Protective Technology 
Laboratory (CCL) delete the functional statement and insert the 
following:
    The mission of the National Personal Protective Technology 
Laboratory (NPPTL) is to prevent work-related injury and illness by 
ensuring the development, certification, deployment, and use of 
personal protective equipment and fully integrated, intelligent 
ensembles. To accomplish its mission, NPPTL: (1) Conducts a variety of 
laboratory and field research relating to the development and 
evaluation of innovative personal protective technologies and 
equipment; (2) researches and develops criteria, standards and 
guidelines relating to personal protective technology (PPT) 
performance, quality, reliability and efficacy; (3) directs and carries 
out the NIOSH respirator approval program and related laboratory, 
field, quality, and records activities; (4) produces and disseminates 
research findings, technical information, training materials, 
performance criteria, and recommendations for using personal protective 
equipment to improve protection of workers; (5) conducts surveillance 
of hazards at worksites for which protective technologies and equipment 
are used to protect workers, and studies patterns of personal 
protective technology (PPT) use; and (6) develops studies and assesses 
the effectiveness of communications and training approaches and 
technologies relating to PPT.
    Technology Evaluation Branch (CCLE). (1) Administers Department of 
health and Human Services 42 CFR part 84 respirator approval program 
including processing respirator approval applications; i.e., certifying 
performance, quality, reliability, and efficacy of respiratory 
protection devices in accordance with Federal regulations and NIOSH 
policy; (2) evaluates and maintains official records on NIOSH-approved 
respirators; (3) evaluates quality control plans, including in-plant 
manufacturing-site quality system audits, and monitors the quality and 
performance of certified respirators; (4) evaluates personal protective 
technologies and equipment; (5) investigates field problems associated 
with NIOSH-certified respirators and other PPE; (6) recommends NIOSH 
activities to address product non-conformance such as NIOSH approval 
rescission, product recalls or retrofits, and public notification of 
potentially unsafe PPE products; (7) provides technical assistance on 
the selection, use, maintenance, and operation of respiratory 
protective equipment and other PPE; (8) conducts PPT failure 
investigations and analyses, and recommends criteria to improve PPT, 
and (9) recommends user guidelines, including cautions, limitations, 
and restrictions of use.
    Technology Research Branch (CCLG). (1) Encourages and conducts 
research related to innovative technologies for new products; (2) 
conducts laboratory and field research of methods and PPT performance, 
quality, reliability, and efficacy, especially for new or emerging 
hazards and recommends criteria to improve PPT; (3) investigates 
emerging hazards and personal exposures to identify worker PPT needs 
and technology gaps; (4) conducts research for the effective 
integration of various personal protective technologies and equipment; 
(5) recommends performance, quality, reliability, and efficacy 
criteria; (6) conducts hypothesis testing-based research; (7) studies 
and improves human/technology interfaces; and (8) conducts research 
into the physiologic and psychologic stressors and worker responses to 
protective technologies and equipment.
    Policy and Standards Development Branch (CCLH). (1) Develops and 
promulgates new approval PPE-related standards and regulations; (2) 
identifies where research is needed to support new standards, 
regulations, and policies relating to NIOSH-certified respirators and 
other PPE; (3) recommends NIOSH policy relating to the approval of 
respirators, including approval policies for innovative respirator 
features; (4) assesses research findings and translates them into 
effective recommendations for NIOSH policy, regulations, and auditing 
practices, especially for new PPE technologies or special applications 
of these technologies; (5) holds public meetings to solicit information 
concerning users needs and the feasibility of specific technologies; 
(6) participates in national and international PPE standard setting 
committees and establishes a national/international database of 
relevant standards, and (7) determines the public financial and legal 
impacts of Federal regulation revision.
    Delete in their entirety the following titles and functional 
statements for the NPPTL: Respirator Branch (CCC2), Technology Research 
Branch (CCC3), Surveillance Communications and Training Branch (CCC4).

    Dated: June 3, 2005.
William H. Gimson,
Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC).
[FR Doc. 05-20790 Filed 10-17-05; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4160-18-M