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Our Research Into Council Workplace Accident Claims
Slips, trips and falls, as well as manual handling injuries, are just some of the reasons why employees have submitted accident claims against the council over the past three years.
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.
To gain a true understanding of the number of workplace accident claims made against UK councils, JF Law set out to investigate.
How JF Law Can Help You
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, we can help.
We operate a 24-hour helpline and an online claim form, which can be accessed on this website.
How We Conducted Our Research Into Accident Claims
We sent Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to a number of UK councils, asking how many accident claims had been made against them by council workers in the last three years. (Broken down by years 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25)
We also asked about the causes of these claims and how much compensation was paid out each financial year. (Broken down by years 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25)
Statistics On Workplace Accidents
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 are responsible for work activities across some of the industry sectors reporting the highest rates of injuries.
Metropolitan District Councils
Birmingham
No. of claims
2022/23 | 15
2023/24 | 20
2024/25 | 12
Total | 47
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £26,313
Total | £26,313
Bradford
No. of claims
2022/23 | 23
2023/24 | 16
2024/25 | 11
Total | 50
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £37,725
2023/24 | £659,509.87
2024/25 | £349,765.49
Total | £1,047,000.36
Bury
No. of claims
2022/23 | 9
2023/24 | 7
2024/25 | 8
Total | 24
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £26,000
2023/24 | £25,000
2024/25 | £0
Total | £51,000
Dudley
No. of claims
2022/23 | 9
2023/24 | 11
2024/25 | 11
Total | 29
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £92,654.39
2023/24 | £38,139.88
2024/25 | £41,405.94
Total | £172,200.21
Kirklees
No. of claims
2022/23 | 11
2023/24 | 17
2024/25 | 17
Total | 45
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £74,539
2023/24 | £8,000
2024/25 | £0
Total | £82,539
Leeds
No. of claims
2022/23 | 48
2023/24 | 39
2024/25 | 34
Total | 121
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £141,725.41
2023/24 | £288,238.48
2024/25 | £355,886,08
Total | £785,849.97
Manchester
No. of claims
2022/23 | 21
2023/24 | 18
2024/25 | 12
Total | 51
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £22,961
2023/24 | £145,000
2024/25 | £26,409
Total | £194,370
Newcastle
No. of claims
2022/23 | 5
2023/24 | 1
2024/25 | 12
Total | 18
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £26,000
2023/24 | £60,550
2024/25 | £31,125
Total | £117,675
Rotherham
No. of claims
2022/23 | 8
2023/24 | 7
2024/25 | 12
Total | 27
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £38,342.79
2023/24 | £37,376.15
2024/25 | £30,285
Total | £106,001.94
Sheffield
No. of claims
2022/23 | 14
2023/24 | 14
2024/25 | 17
Total | 45
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £12,305.94
2023/24 | £7,000
2024/25 | £7,955.85
Total | £27,261.79
Sunderland
No. of claims
2022/23 | 8
2023/24 | 10
2024/25 | 13
Total | 31
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £4,500
2023/24 | £1,300
2024/25 | £7,793.39
Total | £13,593.13
Wakefield
No. of claims
2022/23 | 5
2023/24 | 7
2024/25 | 3
Total | 15
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £17,062
2023/24 | £25,185
2024/25 | £29,325
Total | £71,572
Wigan
No. of claims
2022/23 | 10
2023/24 | 17
2024/25 | 6
Total | 33
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £62,118.13
2023/24 | £34,326.24
2024/25 | £0
Total | £96,444.37
Unitary Authorities
Blackburn with Darwen
No. of claims
2022/23 | 5
2023/24 | 7
2024/25 | 7
Total | 19
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £12,056.38
2023/24 | £5,329.60
2024/25 | £0
Total | £17,385.98
Brighton and Hove
No. of claims
2022/23 | 13
2023/24 | 14
2024/25 | 3
Total | 30
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £181,247.46
2023/24 | £187,089
2024/25 | £276,533.44
Total | £644,869.90
Cheshire East
No. of claims
2022/23 | 7
2023/24 | 6
2024/25 | 7
Total | 20
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £126,991.50
2023/24 | £25,520
2024/25 | £33,598
Total | £186,109.50
Cheshire West and Chester
No. of claims
2022/23 | 9
2023/24 | 14
2024/25 | 4
Total | 27
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £2,500
2023/24 | £7,719
2024/25 | £0
Total | £10,219
Cornwall
No. of claims
2022/23 | 4
2023/24 | 5
2024/25 | 2
Total | 11
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £51,808.42
2023/24 | £6,754.73
2024/25 | £0
Total | £58,563.15
Durham
No. of claims
2022/23 | 30
2023/24 | 25
2024/25 | 21
Total | 76
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £175,332.92
2023/24 | £47,109.87
2024/25 | £52,430
Total | £274,872.79
Derby
No. of claims
2022/23 | 13
2023/24 | 14
2024/25 | 9
Total | 36
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £16,265.20
2023/24 | £15,650
2024/25 | £0
Total | £31,915.20
Dorset
No. of claims
2022/23 | 7
2023/24 | 2
2024/25 | 10
Total | 19
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £132,799.03
2023/24 | £750
2024/25 | £0
Total | £133,549.03
East Riding of Yorkshire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 10
2023/24 | 4
2024/25 | 8
Total | 22
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £13,050
2023/24 | £4,850
2024/25 | £0
Total | £17,900
Redcar and Cleveland
No. of claims
2022/23 | 4
2023/24 | 6
2024/25 | 6
Total | 16
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £54,044.66
2023/24 | £19,702
2024/25 | £59,521.23
Total | £133,267.89
Hull
No. of claims
2022/23 | 14
2023/24 | 21
2024/25 | 11
Total | 46
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £18,839.19
2023/24 | £211,719.19
2024/25 | £135,169.11
Total | £365,727.49
Luton
No. of claims
2022/23 | 6
2023/24 | 2
2024/25 | 5
Total | 13
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £35,883.08
2023/24 | £0
2024/25 | £0
Total | £35,883.08
North Yorkshire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 5
2023/24 | 9
2024/25 | 10
Total | 24
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £42,444
2023/24 | £45,845
2024/25 | £9,317
Total | £97,606
Nottingham
No. of claims
2022/23 | 10
2023/24 | 14
2024/25 | 11
Total | 35
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £120,462.66
2023/24 | £132,379
2024/25 | £0
Total | £252,841.66
Plymouth
No. of claims
2022/23 | 9
2023/24 | 7
2024/25 | 4
Total | 20
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £1,363.07
2023/24 | £55,847
2024/25 | £0
Total | £57,210.07
Portsmouth
No. of claims
2022/23 | 5
2023/24 | 4
2024/25 | 4
Total | 13
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £45,754.50
2023/24 | £0
2024/25 | £3,804
Total | £49,558.50
Shropshire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 4
2023/24 | 1
2024/25 | 1
Total | 6
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £21,108
2023/24 | £350
2024/25 | £0
Total | £21,458
Southampton
No. of claims
2022/23 | 7
2023/24 | 9
2024/25 | 11
Total | 27
Total paid out in compensation (£)
Total | £9,726
Thurrock
No. of claims
2022/23 | 6
2023/24 | 2
2024/25 | 3
Total | 11
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £78,300
2023/24 | £6,250
2024/25 | £9,150
Total | £93,700
Westmorland and Furness
No. of claims
2022/23 | 12
2023/24 | 12
2024/25 | 7
Total | 31
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £84,619
2023/24 | £56,320
2024/25 | £5,031
Total | £145,970
City of York
No. of claims
2022/23 | 3
2023/24 | 4
2024/25 | 3
Total | 10
Total paid out in compensation (£)
Total | £22,027.31
London Councils
Barking and Dagenham
No. of claims
2022/23 | 7
2023/24 | 11
2024/25 | 8
Total | 26
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £22,615
2023/24 | £37,800
2024/25 | £31,328
Total | £91,743
Barnet
No. of claims
2022/23 | 4
2023/24 | 10
2024/25 | 7
Total | 21
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £0
2023/24 | £21,390.93
2024/25 | £21,595
Total | £42,985.93
Camden
No. of claims
2022/23 | 7
2023/24 | 9
2024/25 | 7
Total | 23
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £282.50
2023/24 | £0
2024/25 | £75,460
Total | £75,742.50
Ealing
No. of claims
2022/23 | 6
2023/24 | 7
2024/25 | 6
Total | 19
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £0
2023/24 | £575
2024/25 | £52,045
Total | £52,620
Hackney
No. of claims
2022/23 | 8
2023/24 | 13
2024/25 | 10
Total | 31
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £7,077
2023/24 | £88,203
2024/25 | £259,442
Total | £354,722
Hillingdon
No. of claims
2022/23 | 3
2023/24 | 5
2024/25 | 7
Total | 15
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £19,963
Total | £19,963
Lambeth
No. of claims
2022/23 | 28
2023/24 | 8
2024/25 | 26
Total | 62
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £16,500
2023/24 | £0
2024/25 | £23,050
Total | £39,550
Lewisham
No. of claims
2022/23 | 5
2023/24 | 6
2024/25 | 13
Total | 24
Total paid out in compensation (£)
Total | £23,000
Richmond and Wandsworth
No. of claims
2022/23 | 20
2023/24 | 5
2024/25 | 5
Total | 30
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £254,863.94
2023/24 | £84,933
2024/25 | £39,425.60
Total | £379,222.54
Southwark
No. of claims
2022/23 | 4
2023/24 | 10
2024/25 | 9
Total | 23
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £185,424.97
2023/24 | £1,667,410.06
2024/25 | £20,747
Total | £1,873,582.03
County Councils
Devon
No. of claims
2022/23 | 6
2023/24 | 6
2024/25 | 8
Total | 20
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £101,875
2023/24 | £200,509
2024/25 | £0
Total | £302,384
East Sussex
No. of claims
2022/23 | 5
2023/24 | 8
2024/25 | 6
Total | 19
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £27,250
2023/24 | £136,253.65
2024/25 | £19,500
Total | £183,003.65
Essex
No. of claims
2022/23 | 13
2023/24 | 7
2024/25 | 11
Total | 31
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £63,953
2023/24 | £39,750
2024/25 | £129,916.37
Total | £233,619.37
Gloucestershire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 6
2023/24 | 14
2024/25 | 7
Total | 27
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £0
2023/24 | £71,326.70
2024/25 | £102,632.89
Total | £173,959.59
Hampshire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 21
2023/24 | 17
2024/25 | 14
Total | 52
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £15,272
2023/24 | £15,000
2024/25 | £33,698.14
Total | £63,970.14
Hertfordshire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 10
2023/24 | 7
2024/25 | 6
Total | 23
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £9,383
Total | £9,383
Kent
No. of claims
2022/23 | 5
2023/24 | 6
2024/25 | 4
Total | 15
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £35,000
Total | £35,000
Lancashire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 36
2023/24 | 42
2024/25 | 21
Total | 99
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £440,777.25
2023/24 | £446,000.17
2024/25 | £779,547.51
Total | £1,666,324.93
Lincolnshire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 6
2023/24 | 8
2024/25 | 8
Total | 22
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £29,315.86
2023/24 | £0
2024/25 | £73.50
Total | £29,389.36
Norfolk
No. of claims
2022/23 | 3
2023/24 | 6
2024/25 | 5
Total | 14
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2023/24 | £15,132
Total | £15,132
Suffolk
No. of claims
2022/23 | 7
2023/24 | 3
2024/25 | 2
Total | 12
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £62,639
2023/24 | £360
2024/25 | £0
Total | £62,999
Surrey
No. of claims
2022/23 | 13
2023/24 | 13
2024/25 | 8
Total | 34
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £51,740.80
2023/24 | £383,310.24
2024/25 | £108,928.36
Total | £543,979.40
Warwickshire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 3
2023/24 | 5
2024/25 | 2
Total | 10
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £6,323
2023/24 | £6,020
2024/25 | £0
Total | £12,343
West Sussex
No. of claims
2022/23 | 7
2023/24 | 15
2024/25 | 11
Total | 33
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £2,355
2023/24 | £118,219.78
2024/25 | £10,680
Total | £131,254.78
Welsh Councils
Conwy County Borough
No. of claims
2022/23 | 8
2023/24 | 8
2024/25 | 3
Total | 19
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £125,361
2023/24 | £27,636
2024/25 | £0
Total | £152,997
Neath Port Talbot
No. of claims
2022/23 | 12
2023/24 | 6
2024/25 | 9
Total | 27
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £4,500
2023/24 | £122,690
2024/25 | £9,550
Total | £136,740
Swansea
No. of claims
2022/23 | 18
2023/24 | 24
2024/25 | 16
Total | 58
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £70,727.03
2023/24 | £131,364.58
2024/25 | £78,363.60
Total | £280,455.21
Scottish Councils
Aberdeen
No. of claims
2022/23 | 7
2023/24 | 21
2024/25 | 11
Total | 39
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £27,793.90
2023/24 | £42,419.20
2024/25 | £237
Total | £280,455.21
Angus
No. of claims
2022/23 | 6
2023/24 | 7
2024/25 | 4
Total | 16
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £12,513.20
2023/24 | £25,799.05
2024/25 | £1,288.60
Total | £39,600.85
East Ayrshire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 19
2023/24 | 21
2024/25 | 12
Total | 52
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £49,750
2023/24 | £405,178.95
2024/25 | £130,802.75
Total | £585,731.70
East Lothian
No. of claims
2022/23 | 22
2023/24 | 24
2024/25 | 8
Total | 54
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £62,283.40
2023/24 | £40,069
2024/25 | £17,806.80
Total | £120,158.75
Falkirk
No. of claims
2022/23 | 13
2023/24 | 14
2024/25 | 12
Total | 39
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £90,074
2023/24 | £19,149
2024/25 | £2,625
Total | £111,848
Fife
No. of claims
2022/23 | 41
2023/24 | 34
2024/25 | 23
Total | 98
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £418,594.50
2023/24 | £185,631.60
2024/25 | £13,651.63
Total | £617,877.73
Glasgow
No. of claims
2022/23 | 78
2023/24 | 71
2024/25 | 64
Total | 213
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £447,487
2023/24 | £181,804.30
2024/25 | £0
Total | £629,291.30
Scottish Borders
No. of claims
2022/23 | 4
2023/24 | 2
2024/25 | 3
Total | 9
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £399,736
2023/24 | £300,257
2024/25 | £101,061
Total | £801,054
Midlothian
No. of claims
2022/23 | 16
2023/24 | 12
2024/25 | 7
Total | 35
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £127,159.09
2023/24 | £26,538.40
2024/25 | £0
Total | £153,697.49
Renfrewshire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 22
2023/24 | 22
2024/25 | 6
Total | 50
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £210,150
2023/24 | £46,796.70
2024/25 | £7,000
Total | £263,946.70
Stirling
No. of claims
2022/23 | 11
2023/24 | 11
2024/25 | 13
Total | 35
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £36,275.20
2023/24 | £37,237.80
2024/25 | £3,825
Total | £153,697.49
Dumfries and Galloway
No. of claims
2022/23 | 7
2023/24 | 8
2024/25 | 8
Total | 23
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £62,000
2023/24 | £81,000
2024/25 | £0
Total | £143,000
West Dunbartonshire
No. of claims
2022/23 | 16
2023/24 | 17
2024/25 | 19
Total | 52
Total paid out in compensation (£)
2022/23 | £72,850.05
2023/24 | £0
2024/25 | £0
Total | £72,850.05
