Teacher who slipped on ketchup sachet is awarded £230,000 in compensation

Payout came as part of the £1.5 million Essex County Council spent on settling 34 claims between 2011 and 2013

Doctors said it was the first case of ingested plastic packaging mimicking the symptoms of Crohn's disease (Hoitintungs/ Wikimedia Commons )

A teacher has been awarded £230,000 after slipping on what is believed to be a discarded sachet of ketchup in a hallway.

The payout came as part of the £1.5 million Essex County Council spent on settling 34 claims between 2011 and 2013, according to a Freedom of Information request.

Another member of staff who slipped on a wet floor twice in one day was awarded the second largest pay out, and a worker who damaged their wrist carrying plates to a cupboard received £29,000.

One employee who was left with a head injury from a “fridge door falling onto (their) head” received £57,000.

The total figure includes claimant damages and other costs associated with the cases such as third party and medical fees.

The majority of the claims related to slips and tripping over, although four were related to assaults by pupils.

A council spokesman said: “We take our health, safety and wellbeing responsibilities seriously.

“All compensation claims received by Essex County Council are investigated fully and damages paid if the Council is liable."