Workplace injury claims revealed
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7680197.stm Version 0 of 1. The equivalent of £1,250 per day has been paid out by the Northern Ireland Civil Service over the last five years in relation to workplace injuries. BBC News can reveal a total of £2.3m for claims for everything from stress to exposure to hogweed in that period. One Department of Finance and Personnel employee was paid £300,000 after falling down a flight of stairs. The Department for Regional Development had 80 successful claims, paying out £778,498 since August 2003. "The department is committed to providing training, personal protection equipment and suitable work equipment to all staff, but this can never fully prevent accidents," said a DRD spokeswoman. "The statistics confirm a pattern of a low number of claims when analysed in this context of the thousands of work operations undertaken annually by DRD staff." The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure made no payouts for workplace injuries. 'Hazard' Thirty-five thousand pounds was paid to somebody working for the Department for Regional Development where the "hazard" was described as a cabinet base. No further information was given. A Department of Agriculture and Rural Development employee was paid £10,000 compensation following exposure to hogweed. Its sap is highly caustic when exposed to sunlight, leaving severe burns that can have long-term effects such as scarring, rapid sunburning and chronic dermatitis. Another of the more unusual claims resulted in £3,500 being paid to somebody working for the Department of the Environment after a step in a historical building gave way. There were also numerous claims across a number of departments for leg, back and neck injuries, and several others relating to dermatitis. Claims by department Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister - Number of successful claims for workplace injury (including on location) - 0, total compensation paid out in last five years - £0 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - 67 - £642,646.34 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - 0 - £0 Department of Education - 2 - £7,500 Department for Employment and Learning - 3 - £7,750 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment - 2 - £9,000 Department of the Environment - 17 - £70,193.54 Department of Finance and Personnel - 41 - £554,502.27 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety - 1 - £5,000 Department for Regional Development - 80 - £778,498.18 Department for Social Development - 44 - £207,690 |