State suffers high occupational illness rate

In a report released by the University of Connecticut Health Center, the state ranks 20 percent higher than the national average among workers suffering from occupational illnesses. The number of occupational illnesses increased by 6 percent to 4,851 cases in the private sector in 2005 from 4,573 cases in 2004. More than half of the cases were related to tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive motion. A 36 percent increase in lung diseases was reported and there was a 35 percent increase in blood lead levels in adults. City and town workers had the largest number of worker’s compensation reports.