INJURED workers in East Anglia received more than £2m in compensation in 2004, UNISON revealed today.Across the country UNISON, the UK's largest union, won a record £37,388,262 in compensation for its members - £3m more than the previous year.

INJURED workers in East Anglia received more than £2m in compensation in 2004, UNISON revealed today.

Across the country UNISON, the UK's largest union, won a record £37,388,262 in compensation for its members - £3m more than the previous year.

Included in the figures for the eastern region was a worker from the West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds.

The laundry technician was awarded £2,750 after injuring her lower back when she slipped on oil on the kitchen floor at the college.

Pay outs were made for a range of injuries including broken bones, cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, asthma or allergies caused by prolonged exposure to harsh chemicals, needle injuries, repetitive strain injuries, back, head and neck injuries and stress-related illnesses.

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said: "This £37m compensation represents an awful lot of pain, injury and suffering for a lot of UNISON members. Ask any one of them to choose between the compensation or their health, each would choose not to have been injured in the first place.

"The majority of these injuries are preventable. Employers know this, but many refuse to act or find it cheaper to pay out compensation to anyone injured rather than improve safety at work.

"Employers must take seriously their responsibilities for the health, safety and welfare of their staff. "They should examine in their workplaces why these injuries happen and take steps to prevent repeats."

Have you received compensation for an accident at work this year? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Compensation awarded in each region:

Region £

Eastern 2,070,259.40

East Midlands 3,240,880.55

Greater London 4,335,347.63

Northern 2,390,362.99

Northern Ireland 831,897.92

North West 4,453,071.78

Scotland 2,600,074.90

South East 4,669,094.97

South West 2,206,844.13

Wales 3,340,541.39

West Midlands 3,370,854.16

Yorkshire and Humberside 3,879,050.22