Teacher paid £230,000 compensation after slipping in ketchup

A teacher has been awarded a £230,000 compensation payout after slipping on a ketchup sachet. The settlement is just part of more than £1 million of compensation payments made to injured teachers by Essex County Council over the past three years.

            The unnamed male teacher had been walking towards the staff room in the secondary school where he worked when he slipped on an “unspecified substance” causing severe injury. It has now emerged the substance was tomato ketchup.

            The bizarre claim was revealed in a Freedom of Information request – although the school in which the incident took place has yet to be revealed.

            The accident occurred on March 18, 2008, but a claim was not submitted until March 10, 2011 – just eight days before the legal time limit for personal injury claims was due to run out on the case. Experts advised the council the claim could have cost up to £500,000 if taken to trial due to mounting legal fees.

            Jerry Glazier, National Union of Teachers' executive and representative for Essex, said: "We need to see these claims in context. As a union we will support members who pursue claims for personal injury when we feel they have been poorly treated by management in schools. Schools are generally very safe environments but employers have a duty of care to protect both teachers and pupils."

            An Essex County Council spokesperson stressed that all payouts were total figures including claimant damages, legal fees and other costs related to the case, such as third-party medical fees.

            They added: "The Council takes its health, safety and well-being responsibilities seriously. All compensation claims received by Essex County Council are investigated fully and damages paid if the Council is liable."

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. This is the only teacher who has ever received a compensation.

b. The final decision was not taken at court.

c. The union always supports teachers' claims about accidents at work.

d. The teacher will receive the total amount of money.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What happened to the teacher?

b. What is the Council attitude towards these cases?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. give (par. 1)                                       b. rigorous (par. 2)                                             c. odd (par. 3)

d. expire (par 4)                                    e. responsible (par.7)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a.  A teacher has been awarded a £230,000 compensation payout.

            The Council...

b. As a union we will support members who pursue claims for personal injury when we feel they have been poorly treated by management in schools.

            As a union, members...

c. Jerry Glazier: “Schools are generally very safe environments but employers have a duty of care to protect both teachers and pupils."

            Jerry Glazier said that ...

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

People try to make money easily out of insurance companies. Do you agree?