Kirklees Council has paid out over £80,000 in compensation to staff involved in workplace accidents in the past three years.
In 2022, 11 workplace accident claims were made against Kirklees Council, an FOI by JF Law found. This is the lowest number of claims over the past three years, with 17 made the following year, and 17 more in 2024/25.
As for the reasons behind these claims – falls (11), assaults (7), lifting (6), defective equipment (6) and falls due to a slippery floor (4) – were the five most common.
The council has paid out a total of £82,539 to successful claims over the past three years, with the highest amount coming in 2022/23 at £74,539. Workplace injuries and illnesses in Britain cost around £21.6bn annually, impacting over a million workers, according to the Health and Safety Executive (2022/23).
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. Failure to do so could constitute a breach of health and safety codes and a breach of their duty of care.
When asked what measures the council is taking to ensure the safety of its employees, a spokesperson said: “Kirklees Council has a well-established and embedded health and safety management system. Legal compliance is the accepted minimum standard.
“Periodic monitoring of health and safety compliance is undertaken and reports provided to the senior leadership team. Managers and employees have access to health and safety advice via the Corporate Safety Team.
“Employees are actively consulted and involved with health and safety initiatives designed to help keep them safe in the workplace.”
Solicitor for 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.”
More information about JF Law and workplace claims can be found here: https://www.jflaw.co.uk/accident-at-work-claim
