At the suggestion of the News Media Guild's health and safety committee, the Associated Press will fund a $20,000 study of pho-tographer and videographer injuries that will serve as the basis for an injury prevention program, the guild reported on its web site.

Surveys conducted by the guild over a six-year period revealed that photographers and videographers, who make up 10 percent of AP's workforce, accounted for approximately 40 percent of the company's reported injuries. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents said that they had sustained injuries that never were reported.

Among the most common types of injuries to afflict camera operators are work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The committee would like to ensure that employers provide staff photographers with ergonomic equipment and lighter gear, as well as training to prevent repetitive stress injuries.