Big rise in benefits paid after workplace accidents and injury

Friday 04 September 2015

The amount of benefit paid out to Islanders injured at work has increased by almost half since 2010.

The average amount of benefit per claim has risen to almost £800 - a 44 per cent increase on the amount paid out in 2010. The average number of working days lost per claim has also increased, from 21.3 in 2010 to 28.6 in 2014.

The cost of work-related injuries is outlined in the recently released 2014 annual report of the States Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate. It also reveals that more than half a million pounds of taxpayers’ money was paid out to people injured at work last year.

Social Security paid out just over £533,000 in short-term incapacity benefit in 2014 - £81,000 more than the year before. The number of work-related accidents and incidents that led to benefit claims increased too: from 621 in 2013 to 678 last year, a ten per cent increase.

The number of working days lost due to accidents at work last year increased by 2,592 hours to 19,419 – a 15 per cent increase. Despite the rise, it represents a return to figures seen in 2012.

H&S at Work Inspectorate Director Tammy Fage said: “Of particular concern is the increased demand on the Social Security benefit system over the past five years as the average number of working days lost per claim continues to increase year on year.

“In 2014, the benefit system paid out an average of £786.38 per claim, with an average of 28.6 working days being lost, compared to £544.83 and 21.3 working days in 2010.”

“In addition to the costs to the States of Jersey assumed by the benefits system, there are other significant costs to employers and individuals associated with work-related accidents and ill health, which must not be forgotten,” said Ms Fage. “These are both financial, for example, through cost of sick pay, overtime payments and increased employer liability insurance premiums, and non-financial, including loss of productivity, human pain and suffering.”

In 2014, construction workers remain those most likely to have an accident or suffer ill health although new legislation will be brought in next year that aims to make the industry safer.