Figures obtained by JF Law found that, since 2022, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils have had to pay out over £350k to successful workplace accident claims made by council employees.

Employees who have been injured in a workplace accident may be able to make a claim for compensation if their employer was at fault, meaning they failed to provide a safe working environment.

Council workers, like many other occupations, could be at risk of suffering an accident at work, which can be a distressing and overwhelming experience.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils employ a wide variety of individuals in various departments.

Some common job types include social workers, teachers, and other roles related to housing, traffic and construction.

In 2022, 20 workplace accident claims were made against the two councils, the highest number of claims over the past three years.

A year later, this number decreased to five claims.

The councils have seen the number of claims stay the same over the past year.

Number of accident claims made against Richmond and Wandworth Councils since 2022 (credit: JF Law).

Councils owe their staff a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and should take every reasonable step to ensure their safety. say JF Law. 

Some examples include conducting regular risk assessments, communicating an up-to-date health and safety policy to all staff, providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and training employees to work safely without harming themselves or others.

Failure to comply with any of the above could constitute a breach of health and safety codes and a breach of their duty of care.

Solicitor for JF Law, Lucy Parker, said: "Councils, like all employers, have a legal obligation and owe a significant duty of care to safeguard their workforce and prevent them from harm.

"Unfortunately, council workers can often be involved in workplace accidents ranging from seemingly minor issues like slips on wet floors and trips on uneven surfaces to more serious incidents involving manual handling and defective equipment."

JF Law also obtained figures on how much Richmond and Wandsworth Councils have paid out in compensation for workplace accident claims since 2022.

The councils have paid out a total of £379,222.54 to successful claims over the past three years, with the highest amount coming in 2022/23 at £254,863.94.

Compensation paid by Richmond and Wandsworth Councils since 2022 (credit: JF Law).

Workplace injuries and illnesses in Britain cost around £21.6 billion annually, impacting over a million workers.

The rate of self-reported non-fatal injuries in Great Britain is currently around 1,890 per 100,000 workers, similar to the pre-coronavirus level of 2018/19.

Over the past year, 138 workers were killed in work-related accidents across the country.

Councils and local authorities are responsible for work activities across some of the industry sectors reporting the highest rates of injuries, reflecting the real risks these activities present.

Falls from a height, being struck by a moving vehicle, and being struck by a moving object account for around 70% of fatal injuries.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils also revealed the most common causes of accident claims that were made against them.

Assault was the most common cause, with 11 claims submitted, followed by defective workplace claims, which council employees lodged seven times.

Claim causes against Richmond and Wandsworth Councils (credit: JF Law).

Lucy Parker said: "Sometimes, workplace accidents could have been avoided with proper risk assessments and safety measures. 

"If you're a council worker who has suffered an injury at work, it's important to seek legal advice to understand whether you have grounds to pursue a claim for compensation.

"Making sure that councils are sticking to their legal responsibilities after an accident is crucial as it can ensure lessons are learned to prevent future incidents."

JF Law provides expert claim and legal advice services for accidents at work and employers' liability claims. If you've suffered an injury at work while working for the council, they can help. 

They operate a 24-hour helpline and an online claim form, which can be accessed on their website.

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