WORK TAKING A TOLL ON THE STAFF
Council workers sustain 700 injuries last year
Workers suffered nearly 700 injuries while on the job with South Lanarkshire Council last year.
And these injuries directly resulted in 1,277 sick days being taken.
The work injury toll for 2017/18 was 695 compared to 466 the previous year - a jump of 50 per cent.
As well as employees being absent on sick leave, the council had to fork out £20,646 compensation to injured workers last year.
These figures were confirmed by council chiefs following a freedom of information request by the Reformer.
South Lanarkshire Council has around 15,000 members of staff and Unison is the biggest trade union, representing almost 6,000 of those workers.
The union fully supports its members to make compensation claims in the event of injury at their job.
In a recent edition of its Branchline monthly magazine, a short article was published titled ‘Personal Injury Claims’.
The article reads: “Unison members get full legal support to take claims against their employer for personal injuries whilst at work.
“In the past few months several South Lanarkshire members have settled claims amounting to many thousands of pounds.
“If you have had an accident at work and wish to pursue a claim phone Unison Direct at 08000 857 857 and ask for legal assistance.
“You will be put through to a lawyer who will assist you. The service is free to members.”
The 695 injuries recorded last year were totalled and categorised as: bruise/abrasion - 444; fracture/dislocation - 20; laceration/cut - 82; sprain/ strain - 93.
There was an additional ‘other’ category which account for burns, electric shock, poisoning/ infection, sight problems, unconsciousness - and fatality. There were 56 incidents recorded in this category.
The injuries and sick day totals are the highest recorded at the council in the past four years.
However, the £20,646 paid out in compensation is modest compared to previous years.
In 2016/17, the council forked out £44,109, the previous year the figure was £73,752 - and in 2014/15 the council was forced to pay out £134,202 to injured employees.
A Unison spokesperson said: “We have had a number of successful claims following accidents at work and would urge anyone who has had an accident to contact their trade union for legal advice.
“The trade unions are always working with the council to continually improve health and safety.”
Kay McVeigh, South Lanarkshire Council’s head of personnel services, said: “Since 2016 the council has been implementing a strategy for enhanced reporting of health and safety incidents and concerns and as expected this has resulted in an increase in incidents now being reported.
“Better reporting is supporting more effective risk reduction work including targeted training and risk assessment reviews.
“Under this wider programme of enhanced health and safety reporting we have been actively targeting the prevention of violence and the reduction of slip and trip injuries.”