£290k paid out to Scots teachers for assaults and injuries

More than £290,000 in ­compensation has been paid to Scottish teachers and ­lecturers over the past year following assaults and other injuries at work.

One teacher was awarded £150,000 after slipping on black ice in a school car park, resulting in a displaced pelvis and other injuries.

Another received a £40,000 payout after suffering stress due to a heavy workload.

In total, almost £6,000 has been paid out to three teachers injured as a result of assaults by pupils.

One teacher was left with soft tissue damage to their left hand, wrist and arm after struggling with a pupil while another had their arm twisted behind them by a student causing ligament damage to the left shoulder and bruising to the head.

Teachers union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), released the figures which reveal that in terms of compensation settlements, the most frequent cause of injury continues to be accidents caused by slips and trips.

Larry Flanagan, EIS general secretary said: “This year, the amount of compensation that the EIS has achieved for members has risen from the previous year’s figures. At a time when employers are expressing concern at the costs of sickness absence it is ironic that failure to provide teachers and lecturers a safe place of work has led to significant legal challenge.

“Teachers and lecturers are entitled to safe workplaces and the evidence over this year is a worrying testimony to a lack of diligence by employers.

“These damages should never be viewed as some kind of windfall for injured members. Every case is calculated to the penny with the sole aim of putting members back to the position they were in before they were injured through no fault of their own.”

Mr Flanagan has also highlighted the importance of all incidents being properly recorded and reported – including the filing of police reports, where appropriate such as in cases of violence against a teacher.

He said: “It is essential that all injuries in the workplace are reported, logged and that the police are informed where a potential crime, such as assault, has occurred. Without proper procedures being followed for the recording and reporting of incidents, there is little chance of any action being taken to address the cause of the injury.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Every pupil and teacher should feel safe from harm at school and in their community. Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to maintain their schools to a safe and sufficient standard and make it clear that violence of any sort is unacceptable.”

COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS 2014/15

Personal Injury

Member slipped on a strap of a school bag lying on the floor. Member suffered pulled ligaments to the inner and outer right ankle and also suffered bruising to both ankles. Awarded: £1,175

Violent Incident

Member was assaulted by a pupil. The pupil grabbed the members’ hand and twisted arm behind them. Member suffered soft issue and ligament damage to left shoulder and bruises to head. Member was left dazed and felt very dizzy and could not stand up. Awarded: £1,500

Personal Injury

Member fell flat on face in dark car park. Member suffered an injury to left knee and also injury to nose and lip. Awarded: £2,024

Personal Injury

Member was working in a class with child with special needs. Pupil assaulted member. The member sustained soft tissue injures to neck, shoulder and back. Awarded: £2,250

Personal Injury

Member had an accident when a heavy door shut on hand. Member suffered a badly bruised nail. Awarded: £2,400

Personal Injury

Member sitting on a swivel computer chair and attempted to rest their back against the back rest. The entire back of the chair gave way. Member fell backwards and landed on the concrete floor that had a very thin carpet. Member suffered painful swelling and bruising to side as well as pain to lower back. Awarded: £3,500

Violent Incident

Member struggled with a pupil and was hurt. Member suffered soft tissue damage to left hand, wrist and arm. Member also suffered post traumatic stress and anxiety. Awarded: £3,009

Personal Injury

Member to close a window which had been propped open by a small plastic tub not realising that the window was not supported by counter balances. Member removed the tub and when this was done this the window fell at speed on top of left thumb. Member suffered a laceration to thumb and minor break to second phalanx of thumb. Awarded: £4,000

Personal Injury

Member slipped on food which had been dropped on a stone floor and fell heavily. Member suffered serious injuries to finger. Awarded: £4,750

Personal Injury

Member slipped on a vinyl floor and fell. Members knee was badly injured and is currently awaiting surgery. Awarded: £5,000

Personal Injury

Member slipped on food which had been dropped on a stone floor and he fell heavily. Members suffered several injuries to their fingers. Awarded: £4,750

Personal Injury

Member was sitting in one of the chairs from the school’s dining hall. When the member went to move the chair forward, finger got caught in between the metal frame and the seat. There was a sharp edge to the frame and the finger severed just less than 1cm of the tip of the finger. Awarded: £5,000

Personal Injury

While member was walking in the school car park caught their foot in a pothole and falling. The cark park was in darkness. Member suffered injuries to both ankles and wrist. Awarded: £7,050

Personal Injury

Member slid on the icy untreated slope, leading to carpark. All the weight went down on right arm. Member sustained injuries to upper arm and shoulder. Awarded: £8,900

Personal Injury

Member caught heel on the edge of a mat which had been dumped. Member overbalanced and fell backwards putting right hand down. Member suffered a broken wrist. Awarded: £12,000

Personal Injury

Member slipped and fell on snow and ice while crossing the school car park. Member suffered from a broken right wrist. Awarded: £12,000

Personal Injury

Member stepped into the corridor slipped and fell. Member sustained a laceration to the head and unconscious for a few seconds. Awarded: £17,250

Personal Injury

Member took full weight of a faulty window which was falling inwards. Member suffered injuries to ribs. Awarded: £17,500

Personal Injury

Member who suffered health due to workload. Member had also suffered severe psychiatric trauma in a previous employment and was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Awarded: £40,000

Personal Injury

Member drove their car into the School car park, which is allocated for staff use. At the time, workmen were walking around the area and it was not apparent that there was a danger of black ice in the car park as the workmen seemed to be walking around the car park with ease. Member fell and suffered a displaced pelvis and several other injuries. Awarded: £150,000

TOTAL AWARDS: £292,058