North Lincolnshire Council's £160k compensation bill

North Lincolnshire Council has forked out almost £160,000 in compensation to its employees since 2007, new figures show.

Falling down open manholes and walking into windows are just some of the reasons North Lincolnshire Council has had to hand out compensation.

Since 2007, the local authority has received 68 claims for compensation from its staff, resulting in £157,946 being paid out.

The biggest individual payout was for £25,000, after a council worker was assau- lted while visiting a client.

****SALE**GRIMSBY SUNBLINDS**SALE***

Grimsby Sunblinds

View details

30% off selected vertical and roller blind ranges.SALE on our most stylish privacy wood venetians.

Contact: 01472 809887

Valid until: Saturday, June 29 2013

Some of most eye-catching payouts included £5,392 being paid to an employee who fell down an open drain cover while clearing standing water, and £2,000 being paid to a worker who was hit by a clip when pulling a cord out of a bouncy castle.

There was also £1,850 paid to an employee who walked into an open window, £3,250 paid to a worker who fell into a manhole after the lid tipped open, and £22,582 paid to a worker who fell when trying to get into a vehicle that had no step.

Another council worker was paid £1,957 after what records describe as a "traumatic amputation" to the tip of one finger, caused while a strong-room door was being closed.

Of the 68 claims, more than half were unsuccessful, with 35 resulting in no compensation being paid out.

Those that resulted in no pay-outs included someone claiming for allegedly slipping on trampled food, someone claiming for allegedly being hit on the head with a wheelie bin that was ejected from a refuse truck and a claim by an employee who said they had received an electric shock when switching on a light.

A North Lincolnshire Council spokesman said: "The health, safety and welfare of all council staff is of paramount importance.

"The council has a responsibility, as far as is reasonably practicable, to safeguard health, safety and welfare of all its employees and other people who might be affected by the council's work activities.

"It is important to stress that accidents in the workplace are rare and there are rigorous guidelines and policies in place, as well as national legislation, to protect employees."

From 2002 to 2007, there were 100 claims for compensation made by council staff, resulting in £197,500 being paid by the local authority to claimants.