A study examined employees' knowledge of the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), its prevention, and their legal rights after being diagnosed with CTS. A 24-item questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 30 Chicago-area employees who had been afflicted with CTS. Of those surveyed, 99% considered their CTS injury related to their job, preventable, neither genetic nor influenced by gender, and related to their lack of knowledge surrounding legal rights and job safety issues. Although 99% of the respondents were not informed of their legal rights after their CTS injury, 88% received pain compensation, 70% were given a different job, 80% were given adequate time from the job, 90% were given rest time to compensate for their CTS, and 92% considered the follow-up treatment they received adequate. All 30 respondents believed that CTS has reduced their job performance/abilities. The respondents were concluded to have a very good working knowledge and understanding of CTS; however, existing education and information concerning CTS was deemed ineffective and haphazard in certain occupations. It was therefore recommended that dispensing of information about CTS should be both part of the employee orientation process and an ongoing part of employee education in work and medical settings. (Contains 13 references.) (MN)