Accident at work payouts total £27m in 2010

Accident at work compensation has led to a total of £27 million being awarded to public sector workers in personal injury claims, illustrating the extent of the problem.

People hurt in a professional environment who were not at fault have the right to such reparations, which can be used to cover lost wages and medical bills.

Almost 4,000 accident at work cases were brought last year, the Daily Express reports, with one involving a teacher granted £150,000 in personal injury compensation after she damaged her throat in the classroom.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "Employers have a duty of care and where they fail; workers and their families deserve compensation for the pain and suffering caused."

The Claims Standards Council reports incidences of legal proceedings relating to personal injury have declined over the past three years, but accident at work cases remain costly for large employers such as the NHS. A man was recently sent to jail for failing to pay compensation in one such case, after a judge ruled his employee was eligible for a £6,000 payout following an accident with a firework.

Published by Rose Orlik