£27m compensation for injured workers

The biggest public-sector workers' union won more than £27 million in compensation for its members last year in cases including assaults, car crashes, back injuries and slips at work, new figures show.

Unison said it had handled 3,893 cases in 2010, arguing many of the personal injuries suffered by workers could have been prevented.

General secretary Dave Prentis said: "Jobs such as nursery workers, dental technicians and dinner ladies are not dangerous, but because employers have been negligent, some Unison members have lost their health, families, confidence and careers.

"Employers have a duty of care and where they fail, workers and their families deserve compensation for the pain and suffering.

"It's clear some employers have still not learned their lesson and introduced safer working practices."