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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
National Research Council
and
Institute of Medicine
Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education

*****

Congressional Briefings
Tuesday, January 16, 2001 -- 9:00 a.m.

on

Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace:
Low Back and Upper Extremities

by

Members of the Panel on Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace, led by Dr. Jeremiah A Barondess, Chair of the Panel and President of the New York Academy of Medicine

A new report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine discusses scientific evidence showing that musculoskeletal disorders of the lower back and upper extremities can be attributed to particular jobs and working conditions -- including heavy lifting, repetitive and forceful motions, and stressful work environments. Each year, these disorders affect about 1 million workers and cost the nation between $45 billion and $54 billion in compensation expenditures, lost wages, and decreased productivity. But the problem can be reduced with well-designed intervention programs. This study, entitled "Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace: Low Back and Upper Extremities" was initiated by Congress in PL 105-277.

A series of briefings, on this report, for members of Congress and congressional staff only were held on January 16 - 17, 2001. The report was publicly released on January 18, 2001. The full text can be found on-line through the Web site of the National Academies Press.