Q&A talks about Connecticut’s above average rate of workplace illnesses with Tim Morse, an occupational and environmental expert at the UConn Health Center in Farmington.
Q: According to UConn Health Center research, there were 7,265 unique cases of occupational illnesses reported to either the Workers’ Compensation Commission or the Department of Public Health in 2011. What are some examples of occupational illnesses being reported and what is most common?
A: The most common conditions are musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, which account for more than half of the illnesses reported. These are conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, tendonitis, and ‘strains and sprains.’ Next most common are lung conditions caused by chemicals, smoke, or fumes, and skin conditions including poison ivy and dermatitis. It’s important to note this report covers only illnesses, and not traumatic injuries.
Q: How does Connecticut stack up when it comes to other states for occupational illnesses? Are we less likely to have them because of a more high-tech workforce or is that a misconception? Why?
A: Our occupational illness rates are 35 percent higher than the national average. While our manufacturing base has decreased over the years, which has led to lower injury and illness rates, we still have more than 10 percent of the workforce in that sector. In addition, some of the highest rates for illness are in the government and health/education sectors, which are some of the sectors we tend to inaccurately regard as ‘safe.’
Q: You have been quoted as saying, “These increasing numbers are a call for more attention to prevention of these serious chronic conditions.” What are the preventative steps businesses can take? And is an ounce of prevention cheaper than a pound of cure in this case?
A: Occupational illnesses are by definition preventable, and there are many approaches that are highly cost effective. Ergonomics, or the attempt to make an employees work environment safer and more comfortable, has been shown in study after study to be cost effective for both direct and indirect costs, in addition to the clear benefits of reduced illnesses, reduced fatigue, and higher productivity. Substituting safer chemicals can reduce lung and skin disease while improving the environment. These are both approaches that may be done effectively by health and safety committees, which are required in Connecticut for all employers with over 25 employees (and smaller employers if they are above the average injury rate). Prevention is definitely worthwhile, since chronic occupational illnesses tend to have among the highest median lost days from work, and high medical costs.
Q: The annual report on workplace injuries says occupational diseases are typically harder to detect than injuries, since they often occur over longer periods of time, and can have multiple (including non-occupational) risks. What are some of the non-occupational risks and how does a worker get compensated for risks outside the workplace?
A: While exposures are typically much higher in workplaces than at home for illnesses such as MSD or lung disease, there can be additional exposures away from work that may contribute. Computer use, which is a big contributor to MSDs such as tendonitis, is common at both home and work, and the ergonomics at home may not be as good as at work. Compensation is problematic even for work-related disease, and studies have shown that most work-related illnesses do not receive workers compensation due to a variety of factors, including lack of diagnosis or recognition. Medical bills for non-work related illnesses would typically get covered by group medical insurance where available. However, there is no state disability system in Connecticut for non-occupational conditions, so any lost work time would only be covered by a voluntary private disability policy, at least until Social Security disability might apply after six months.
Q: Manufacturing had the second highest rate of occupational illnesses with hearing loss being a major issue. Is hearing loss based on injuries sustained over a longer period of time, say 15-20 years? Have standards on hearing protection improved so new workers in manufacturing won’t face the same risks?
A: Hearing loss does tend to be from chronic noise exposure, although the largest rate of loss tends to come from the first year or so of loud noise. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) noise standards have not changed in recent decades (except for an increased emphasis on controlling noise at the source rather than just through personal protective equipment). Noise levels are typically much lower in service-related jobs than in construction or manufacturing, and many employers have gone beyond the OSHA requirements. Unfortunately, as many as 20 percent of workers exposed over a working lifetime at the current OSHA noise limits would still end up with significant hearing loss, so it is important to go even lower than current standards.
Q: What’s one area of occupational illnesses that might be overlooked by physicians? Are there new illnesses being discovered that may not have had a link to occupational causes before?
A: Unfortunately, most occupational illnesses, even well established ones, are still overlooked by physicians, who typically have very little training in the area. There are also a lot of new chemicals in use, which have not been evaluated for toxicity. There are also concerns about new technologies, such as exposure to nanoparticles, leading to new types of illnesses.
