Lancashire Police Federation

Injury at Work - Update

Following the information sent out below, around 40 officers applied for Industrial Injury Disablement Benefits. Many have been successful in the application and some have been awarded this government benefit on a permanent basis.

What is clear though is that most officers are not aware of the need to register their injury at work as an Industrial Injury. Simply put, if the injury is not registered with the authorities then it is much harder to get any assistance later in life if anything goes wrong because of the injury.

I have attached a form that is used to register the injury. Please keep it on file in case you need it. The form should be completed and sent to the following address:

You should then get an acknowledgement that the injury has been registered.

If the injury is more than minor then please get in touch with a federation rep or Health & Safety Officer to get an Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit application form. Remember that this application does not stop any CICA application. Should an IIDB form be submitted contact is made with the force to check that the accident was recorded in the force.

I hope to resume more KYRs later this week.

John Ainsworth

Injury at Work

Recent injuries to officers at work have highlighted that most officers are unaware of their Industrial Injury entitlements.

Where that is the case the officers are financially missing out and are potentially putting themselves at financial risk.

If you are injured at work you must ask your supervisor to record the details of the injury or accident on the Force reporting system. Many of you will say that minor cuts and bruises for example, will cause no lasting harm. But if they do cause lasting harm and the matter is not recorded properly then your position at work (should sickness issues be relevant), or your future appropriate pension arrangements could be in jeopardy.

Federation Safety Reps carry out investigations into injuries and accidents at work and they can make recommendations to the Force to improve safety. There are good information sharing arrangements in place between Force Health & Safety Officers and Federation Safety Reps. If matters are not reported then the chances of making improvements are slim.

If you think the injury may lead to future problems then you should record the injury with the Department of Work and Pensions.

You can also apply for Industrial Disablement Benefit. This is paid by the Government. Forms can be obtained from the Federation Office and Force HSOs, and also online from DWP.

You can apply even if you are still at work and not off sick and the benefit equates to about £100 per month and is paid temporarily if you are assessed by a medical examiner as being 14% or more disabled.

If you are permanently disabled to 14% or more the benefit is payable for life.

If you claim within 3 months of the injury it can be backdated to when the injury happened. Claims cannot be backdated for more than 3 months under any circumstances.

Negligence claims can be funded through your Federation subscriptions and assistance in this area is also available through the Group Insurance Scheme - if you are a subs payer to that scheme.

Further information in this area will cover half pay issues and the Employment Support Allowance.

John Ainsworth
JBB Treasurer and Health & Safety Panel Secretary