2) Kinds of Injuries and Illnesses: The kinds of injuries and illnesses in the first reports for 2005 are
described through two characteristics: the nature of the injury or illness, and part of body affected.
Clearly “musculoskeletal injuries dominate workplace injuries and illnesses in Maine.”
13 The most
common “nature” of injuries was that of sprains, strains, and tears, which was identified in 4,921
cases, accounting for over one-third (35.5%) of all FROI’s. The second ranking “nature” of injury or
illness, “non-back soreness, pain or hurt,” listed in almost 2,000 cases (1,983 reports, or 14.3
percent) was also musculoskeletal.
14 The “part of the body” affected most often was the lumbar region
(1,852 reports, or 13.4 percent).