The attitudes of employees in the metal industry towards possibilities for preventing the occurrence of low back pain were studied. Of 170 clerical employees and 504 manual workers, 86 per cent (n = 146) and 63 per cent (n = 315), respectively, responded to the questionnaire. Opinions were positive in both groups, even among those who reported experience of recurrent or continuous low back pain. Measures requiring their own activity, such as daily training of back and abdominal muscles, straightening the back during awkward postures, increasing physical exercise during leisure time, and increased information about the structure and loading of the back, were considered effective more often than measures involving changes at work or passive rehabilitation. Attitudes towards possibilities for promoting health in general by their own behaviour were more positive among the clerical employees than the manual workers. The attitudes became more negative with increasing age, as well as with reported experience of low back pain in both groups. Thus, it is important that an active approach is taken in occupational health care to motivate subjects to take action themselves in the prevention of low back pain at a younger age, and, at the latest, when the first episodes of low back pain occur.