There is a need to research the causes
and means of preventing injuries and illnesses among miners and
improve means of controlling respirable dust, noise, and diesel
particulate matter. This is the ongoing mission of NIOSH's Mining
Program as mandated by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act. To
achieve this mission, NIOSH engages the mining industry--operators,
workers, equipment manufacturers, and others--in identifying needs
and establishing priorities for research and development. The
products of research come in many forms: technologies, mining
methods, instruments, computer software, training materials, and
others. These products are made available to the mining community
through multiple channels, including publications, workshops,
conference presentations, and on the Internet. The primary (but not
the only) consumers of NIOSH research are mine operators.
Occasionally, NIOSH recommendations are adopted by the Mine Safety
and Health Administration (MSHA) and become required by regulation.
This information collection is intended to fill this gap by
providing valid, reliable data to estimate the adoption of a core
set of innovations/technologies developed by NIOSH's Mining
Program. As such, it represents a new information collection. The
survey also aims to identify the characteristics of health and
safety interventions that mine operators and safety managers find
most useful, to enhance the effectiveness of future
interventions.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.