Ealing Council has paid out more than £50,000 in compensation to staff injured on the job since 2022, with slips, trips and employers’ liability issues topping the list of workplace accident claims.
Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by legal firm JF Law reveal Ealing Council settled staff claims totalling £52,620 over the past three years – with £52,045 of that amount paid out in the 2024/25 period alone.
Since 2022, a total of 19 workplace accident claims have been made. Employers’ liability was the most common cause, accounting for 10 claims, followed by slips, trips and falls, which made up six.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, councils are legally required to protect their staff – but failure to meet these obligations can come at a cost.
Lucy Parker, solicitor at JF Law, 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. 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.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “Ealing Council is committed to ensuring that all our sites are managed appropriately to prevent incidents from occurring. We provide comprehensive training for our staff on health and safety protocols to minimise risks. However, given the nature of some activities, it is impossible to eliminate all risks entirely.”
They added: “We conduct thorough risk assessments and routine reviews of activities to identify and mitigate potential hazards. Additionally, we provide continuous support to our staff to ensure they have the necessary tools and knowledge to maintain a safe working environment.”
