Research Project To Evaluate and Control Hazards to Landscaping and Grounds Management Workers; Request for Participants, 1314 [2020-00246]
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1314
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 7 / Friday, January 10, 2020 / Notices
800 N Capitol Street NW, First
Floor Hearing Room, Washington, DC.
STATUS: Parts of this meeting will be
open to the public and will be streamed
live at https://bit.ly/2IZBIkY. The rest of
the meeting will be closed to the public.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
PLACE:
Open Session
1. Hearing Procedures Governing the
Denial, Revocation, or Suspension
of an OTI License
2. Regulatory Amendments
Implementing the Frank LoBiondo
Coast Guard Authorization Act of
2018
Closed Session
1. Staff Briefing on Economic Outlook
and U.S. Liner Trade Developments
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Rachel Dickon, Secretary, (202) 523–
5725.
Rachel Dickon,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–00311 Filed 1–8–20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6731–AA–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
Research Project To Evaluate and
Control Hazards to Landscaping and
Grounds Management Workers;
Request for Participants
National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Request for pilot study
participants.
AGENCY:
The National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), within the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), is
initiating a research study to evaluate
workplace hazards to landscapers,
groundskeepers, hardscapers and
arborists and to develop appropriate
controls to minimize or eliminate those
hazards. NIOSH is seeking up to nine
firms in the landscaping and grounds
management fields to participate in the
pilot study that will evaluate how
outdoor power tools can create hazards
that may result in occupational health
impacts. NIOSH will use this
information to design effective
solutions, such as engineering controls
for power tools. The findings and
controls information will be shared with
participating workers and companies.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:39 Jan 09, 2020
Jkt 250001
Submit letters of interest to
participate in this research program
prior to October 16, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Interested employers and/or
workers should submit a letter of
interest with information about their
work activities and location to: NIOSH,
Division of Field Studies and
Engineering, Attn: Barbara Alexander,
1090 Tusculum Ave., MS R–5,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, Email address:
balexander@cdc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara Alexander, 1090 Tusculum
Ave., MS R–5, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226,
Phone: 513–841–4581, Email address:
balexander@cdc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
landscaping industry is composed
primarily of small companies and is one
of the most hazardous industries in the
services sector with a fatality rate of
16.9 per 100,000 workers, compared to
3.5 per 100,000 workers for all
industries in 2017.1 The rate of non-fatal
injuries in landscaping is also elevated.2
Previous research conducted by NIOSH
has shown that workers completing
tasks similar to those performed by
landscapers, groundskeepers, arborists,
and hardscapers are exposed to
hazardous levels of noise, carbon
monoxide (CO), dust, and silica.3 For
example, similar processes and tasks in
the construction industry produce
exposures that are well-characterized;
substitutions and engineering controls
appropriate to reducing these exposures
are known and their effectiveness has
been demonstrated.4 Previous NIOSH
research has led to safer operations
through interventions such as the design
and development of dust controls on
asphalt milling machines; 5 the
DATES:
1 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI),
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of
Labor, https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm#other.
2 Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries
and illnesses by industry and case types, 2018,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of
Labor, https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/
summ1_00_2018.htm.
3 NIOSH [2019]. Evaluation of wildland fire
fighter exposures during fuel reduction projects. By
Ramsey JG, Eisenberg J, Wiegand D, Brueck SE,
McDowell TW. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, Health Hazard
Evaluation Report 2015–0028–3330, https://
www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2015-00283330.pdf.
4 NIOSH [2007]. In-depth survey of dust control
technology for cutting concrete block and
tuckpointing brick, EPHB 282–13 Cincinnati, OH:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/surveyreports/
pdfs/282-13.pdf.
5 NIOSH [2015]. Best practice engineering control
guidelines to control worker exposure to respirable
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
development of reduced noise
equipment for the ‘‘NIOSH Buy Quiet’’
initiative; 6 and the development of a
website, www.silica-safe.org, which
addresses silica hazards and controls in
the construction industry. The data
available for landscapers, hardscapers,
arborists, and groundskeepers indicate
that their burden of occupational
exposure, illness and injury is
potentially great.
The study will consist of two parts. In
the first part of the study, NIOSH will
conduct site visits at work locations in
accordance with the requirements of
NIOSH regulations in 42 CFR part 85a.
NIOSH investigators will collect data
through small sampling devices that
workers will wear while conducting
normal working activities. This
information will establish a baseline for
exposures to potential hazards from the
use of outdoor power equipment. In the
second part of the study, NIOSH will
test worker exposures while using tools
which are designed to reduce exposures
to noise, CO, dust, and silica. The
reduced-exposure tools will be provided
by NIOSH through the employer, and
training in their correct use will be
provided. The study is a unique
opportunity to try new equipment on
the market with low-emission and lownoise properties.
This pilot project will add to our
understanding of hazards in this
industry and will promote the
implementation of effective controls.
Participants selected for the study will
receive a site visit report for their
particular site, workers, and processes,
as well as a consolidated report of
overall findings and recommendations.
A research report from this study will be
prepared and made publicly available at
the end of the research. Company and
participant names will not be included
in the report.
Frank J. Hearl,
Chief of Staff, National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2020–00246 Filed 1–9–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163–18–P
crystalline silica during asphalt pavement milling.
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No.
2015–105 (accessed 1/9/2018).
6 https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/buyquiet/
default.html.
E:\FR\FM\10JAN1.SGM
10JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 7 (Friday, January 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 1314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00246]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Research Project To Evaluate and Control Hazards to Landscaping
and Grounds Management Workers; Request for Participants
AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Request for pilot study participants.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
is initiating a research study to evaluate workplace hazards to
landscapers, groundskeepers, hardscapers and arborists and to develop
appropriate controls to minimize or eliminate those hazards. NIOSH is
seeking up to nine firms in the landscaping and grounds management
fields to participate in the pilot study that will evaluate how outdoor
power tools can create hazards that may result in occupational health
impacts. NIOSH will use this information to design effective solutions,
such as engineering controls for power tools. The findings and controls
information will be shared with participating workers and companies.
DATES: Submit letters of interest to participate in this research
program prior to October 16, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Interested employers and/or workers should submit a letter
of interest with information about their work activities and location
to: NIOSH, Division of Field Studies and Engineering, Attn: Barbara
Alexander, 1090 Tusculum Ave., MS R-5, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, Email
address: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Alexander, 1090 Tusculum Ave.,
MS R-5, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, Phone: 513-841-4581, Email address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The landscaping industry is composed
primarily of small companies and is one of the most hazardous
industries in the services sector with a fatality rate of 16.9 per
100,000 workers, compared to 3.5 per 100,000 workers for all industries
in 2017.\1\ The rate of non-fatal injuries in landscaping is also
elevated.\2\ Previous research conducted by NIOSH has shown that
workers completing tasks similar to those performed by landscapers,
groundskeepers, arborists, and hardscapers are exposed to hazardous
levels of noise, carbon monoxide (CO), dust, and silica.\3\ For
example, similar processes and tasks in the construction industry
produce exposures that are well-characterized; substitutions and
engineering controls appropriate to reducing these exposures are known
and their effectiveness has been demonstrated.\4\ Previous NIOSH
research has led to safer operations through interventions such as the
design and development of dust controls on asphalt milling machines;
\5\ the development of reduced noise equipment for the ``NIOSH Buy
Quiet'' initiative; \6\ and the development of a website, www.silica-safe.org, which addresses silica hazards and controls in the
construction industry. The data available for landscapers, hardscapers,
arborists, and groundskeepers indicate that their burden of
occupational exposure, illness and injury is potentially great.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), Bureau of
Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor, https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm#other.
\2\ Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and
illnesses by industry and case types, 2018, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/summ1_00_2018.htm.
\3\ NIOSH [2019]. Evaluation of wildland fire fighter exposures
during fuel reduction projects. By Ramsey JG, Eisenberg J, Wiegand
D, Brueck SE, McDowell TW. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Hazard
Evaluation Report 2015-0028-3330, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2015-0028-3330.pdf.
\4\ NIOSH [2007]. In-depth survey of dust control technology for
cutting concrete block and tuckpointing brick, EPHB 282-13
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/surveyreports/pdfs/282-13.pdf.
\5\ NIOSH [2015]. Best practice engineering control guidelines
to control worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica during
asphalt pavement milling. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH)
Publication No. 2015-105 (accessed 1/9/2018).
\6\ https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/buyquiet/default.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The study will consist of two parts. In the first part of the
study, NIOSH will conduct site visits at work locations in accordance
with the requirements of NIOSH regulations in 42 CFR part 85a. NIOSH
investigators will collect data through small sampling devices that
workers will wear while conducting normal working activities. This
information will establish a baseline for exposures to potential
hazards from the use of outdoor power equipment. In the second part of
the study, NIOSH will test worker exposures while using tools which are
designed to reduce exposures to noise, CO, dust, and silica. The
reduced-exposure tools will be provided by NIOSH through the employer,
and training in their correct use will be provided. The study is a
unique opportunity to try new equipment on the market with low-emission
and low-noise properties.
This pilot project will add to our understanding of hazards in this
industry and will promote the implementation of effective controls.
Participants selected for the study will receive a site visit report
for their particular site, workers, and processes, as well as a
consolidated report of overall findings and recommendations. A research
report from this study will be prepared and made publicly available at
the end of the research. Company and participant names will not be
included in the report.
Frank J. Hearl,
Chief of Staff, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2020-00246 Filed 1-9-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
