A SCHOOL worker was paid more than £230,000 in compensation after slipping on a ketchup sachet.

The pay-out is one of 34 costing Essex County Council almost £1.05million in claims settled from 2011 to last year.

A Freedom of Information request published by County Hall revealed it had paid the amount in compensation and legal costs for injuries as far back as October 2005.

The ketchup claim was settled by negotiation on April 18 last year and included around £90,000 in damages for pain, suffering and loss of earnings and legal costs were settled at £120,000.

If the matter had gone to trial and the employee had won he could have been awarded up to £270,0000 in damages plus around £220,000 or more in legal costs.

The discarded sachet had been left in a hallway in an Essex secondary school.

Other claims include £57,950 paid to staff assaulted by pupils, and £488,890 on slips and trips other than the sauce incident.

One worker was paid £57,162 in compensation and costs after a fridge door fell on their head.

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “The council takes its 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.”