Connecticut Releases Occupational Illness Report, Workplace Prevention Guide
New resources highlight occupational illness trends and provide safety and health committees with practical strategies for identifying and preventing workplace hazards.
- By Danielle Naidu
- Sep 10, 2026
Hazardous chemicals, infectious diseases and indoor air quality are among the workplace health concerns addressed in a new Connecticut prevention guide released with the state’s annual occupational disease report.
The Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission released the report, which was prepared by the UConn School of Medicine. It draws on 2024 data from three reporting systems that measure occupational illness differently.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics and Connecticut Department of Labor estimated approximately 2,800 occupational illness cases in 2024, a 20% decrease from 2023. Workers’ Compensation Commission reports declined 18% to 4,264.
Combined reports from the Occupational Illnesses and Injury Surveillance System and laboratory-reported adult blood lead cases increased 4% to 2,345. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and Connecticut Department of Labor illness rate fell 22.3%, from 26.9 to 20.9 cases per 10,000 workers. Connecticut’s rate remained 26% above the national rate and ranked ninth among 45 states and territories with publishable data.
Workers’ Compensation Commission reports of musculoskeletal disorders, its largest category, fell 21%, while infectious disease reports declined 28%. Physician-reported infectious diseases increased 24%. Laboratory-reported adult blood lead cases rose 13%.
The prevention guide explains how joint labor-management safety and health committees can use workplace inspections and worker participation to identify hazards. Committees can also examine illness and injury data and conduct incident reviews. Action tracking can help them evaluate corrective measures.
The annual report and prevention guide are available through UConn Health.
About the Author
Danielle Naidu is assistant editor for Security Today, Campus Security Today, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.