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In a recent study for the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission, “Occupational Disease in Connecticut,” the occupational illness rate in the state of Connecticut was reported to be far higher than in the rest of the nation. The study, prepared by the UConn Health Center, cited 7,265 unique cases of occupational illness in 2011.

A large number for a small state, these 7,265 cases represent only those cases that were reported to the Department of Public Health or the Workers’ Compensation Commission, and the figure does not account for any occupational illnesses that went unreported. According to Carolyn Pennington, of UConn Today, this number, which translates to 27.8 reported occupational illnesses per 10,000 workers, is a whopping 35 percent higher than the national average.

One of the experts involved in preparing the report, occupational and environmental expert Tim Morse, told Pennington, “These increasing numbers are a call for more attention to prevention of these serious chronic conditions. Although you might expect that both numbers and rates of occupational illnesses to increase as business picks up, employment was actually somewhat lower in 2011 than in 2010.” 

The eye-opening results of this report will, no doubt, lead many to question what can be done to change the workplace conditions in Connecticut—Morse cites such programs such as safer chemicals and ergonomics as possible solutions. 

A representative from the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission advised employers that the report was a reminder that prevention is better than compensation. While this is certainly true, implementing specific programs would require a more in-depth knowledge about what types of workplace illnesses are the most frequently reported, what types of occupations have the most illnesses associated with them, and, perhaps, recommendations on what can be done to prevent them. While the public details of the report may be vague, it does serve its purpose: to remind Connecticut employers to review their safety standards and what can be done to help keep their employees safe and healthy. As an added bonus, healthy employees are more productive.