This report seeks to provide managers, supervisors and safety and health professionals with a greater understanding of Low Back Pain (LBP) and low back disability (work time lost due to LBP). The report attempts to improve one's understanding of the many factors that influence LBP, provides the latest research information related to its causes, and describes methods that have proven to be effective in preventing LBP and disability.

The Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) of the U. S. Department of Energy commissioned the National Research Council (NRC) to undertake a study on required technologies for the Mining Industries of the Future Program to complement information provided to the program by the National Mining Association. Subsequently, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also became a sponsor of this study, and the Statement of Task was expanded to include health and safety. The overall objectives of this study are: (a) to review available information on the U.S. mining industry; (b) to identify critical research and development needs related to the exploration, mining, and processing of coal, minerals, and metals; and (c) to examine the federal contribution to research and development in mining processes.

The Dynamics of Intergroup Communication provides a timely and comprehensive review of work at the intersection of intergroup relations and communication. Chapters written by experts in the field overview current research and present directions for the future. The book is divided into sections addressing specific groups, intergroup communication processes, and core contexts in which intergroup communication occurs. Written in an engaging and accessible manner, and featuring short yet detailed chapters, the book should appeal to scholars looking for a broad overview of this growing area, as well as being appropriate for use as a text in undergraduate and graduate classes.

Every year workers' low-back, hand, and arm problems lead to time away from jobs and reduce the nation's economic productivity. The connection of these problems to workplace activities-from carrying boxes to lifting patients to pounding computer keyboards-is the subject of major disagreements among workers, employers, advocacy groups, and researchers. Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace examines the scientific basis for connecting musculoskeletal disorders with the workplace, considering people, job tasks, and work environments. A multidisciplinary panel draws conclusions about the likelihood of causal links and the effectiveness of various intervention strategies. The panel also offers recommendations for what actions can be considered on the basis of current information and for closing information gaps. This book presents the latest information on the prevalence, incidence, and costs of musculoskeletal disorders and identifies factors that influence injury reporting. It reviews the broad scope of evidence: epidemiological studies of physical and psychosocial variables, basic biology, biomechanics, and physical and behavioral responses to stress. Given the magnitude of the problem-approximately 1 million people miss some work each year-and the current trends in workplace practices, this volume will be a must for advocates for workplace health, policy makers, employers, employees, medical professionals, engineers, lawyers, and labor officials.