Westmorland and Furness face a £145k bill for council worker injury payouts

Slips, trips, falls and manual handling injuries drive £145k council workplace payouts in 3 years

Westmorland and Furness Council has paid more than £140,000 in compensation to employees injured at work over the past three years, new data reveals. The payouts cover a range of incidents, from slips and trips to manual handling accidents, underlining the risks council workers continue to face across departments.

Figures obtained by JF Law through Freedom of Information requests show that, since 2022, the council has settled workplace accident claims totalling £145,970. The highest payout came during the 2022/23 financial year, when £84,619 was paid to staff who successfully pursued claims.

Council employees, like many across the public sector, can bring compensation claims if workplace injuries occur due to employer negligence or failure to provide a safe working environment. Westmorland and Furness Council employs staff across a wide range of roles, including social workers, teachers, construction workers and office staff—all potentially exposed to varying workplace hazards.

In 2022, the council recorded 12 accident claims, the highest figure over the three-year period. That number remained steady in 2023, with another 12 claims filed. However, the most recent data indicates a slight improvement, with only seven claims lodged over the past year.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, councils have a legal duty of care towards their employees. This means they must take all reasonable measures to prevent workplace accidents. These measures include conducting routine risk assessments, regularly updating and communicating health and safety policies, providing adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and ensuring employees receive comprehensive safety training.

JF Law solicitor Lucy Parker stressed the importance of this legal obligation. “Councils, like all employers, have a legal obligation and owe a significant duty of care to safeguard their workforce and prevent them from harm,” she said. “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.”

The most common causes of claims made against Westmorland and Furness Council reflect the wider national picture. Across Britain, workplace injuries and illnesses cost an estimated £21.6 billion annually, with more than a million workers affected. The self-reported rate of non-fatal injuries remains at approximately 1,890 per 100,000 workers, similar to pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2018/19.

In the past year alone, 138 people have died in work-related accidents across the UK. Fatal injuries typically result from falls from height, being struck by moving vehicles, or being hit by moving objects—factors accounting for around 70% of such deaths.

Councils and local authorities often oversee work in sectors that report some of the highest injury rates. From road maintenance and waste management to social care and education, local government roles expose employees to varied and sometimes hazardous working environments.

Despite recent improvements in claim numbers, the total compensation paid by Westmorland and Furness Council underscores the ongoing need for stringent health and safety measures. Failure to uphold these responsibilities not only places staff at risk but can also lead to substantial financial liabilities for the authority.

JF Law’s findings serve as a reminder that even with legal frameworks in place, workplace safety remains an ever-present challenge for councils across the country.