Almost £3 million in personal injury compensation was paid out to public-sector workers in the south west last year, public liability insurance holders have been told.
The Plymouth Herald reported that the union, Unison, said that it had won 242 claims cases for members in the south west of the UK during 2009.
According to the group, the majority of the compensation awarded to people followed back injuries and slips and falls.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, told the source that the figure represented a "huge amount of pain and suffering" for members and families.
"Sadly, many of these accidents could and should have been prevented by employers. It is clear to me that some employers are still not taking the necessary steps to safeguard their staff," he added.
Last month Pam Waldron, the Health and Safety Executive's north-east head of operations, said that it implored businesses to take practical action to manage the risks people face in their day-to-day work.