Ministry of Defence Compensates £107.2 Million for Accidents in a Year
In the past year, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has paid out a total of £107.2 million in compensation due to various accidents, recent information has disclosed.
One notable incident involved an MoD employee who suffered a broken arm while grappling with a wheelie bin during a strong gust of wind at an airfield.
Another case entailed a worker receiving compensation after straining their arm and elbow while attempting to put on a boot. Additionally, compensation was granted to an individual who broke their foot by accidentally dropping a basketball on it.
Out of the total compensation amount, £83.6 million was awarded to service personnel, while £23.6 million was allocated to civilian staff members.
Safety officers responsible for documenting significant occurrences for the Health and Safety Executive shared these details.
Reflecting on these incidents, Professor Bill Durodie, Chair of Risk and Security at the University of Bath, noted that such injuries and subsequent compensation claims are not exclusive to the military domain. He explained that similar stories are observed in numerous workplaces, both public and private, across different sectors.
He further added that in the past, challenges and misfortunes were often seen as trials that tested a person’s dedication to a greater societal mission. However, the present inability to frame accidents this way suggests a larger crisis involving purpose and authority.
The MoD responded by highlighting its strong commitment to maintaining safe practices through robust policies and processes. The statement emphasized that compensation is only provided when a clear legal liability is established.