Prisons Occupational Violence Survey
CPSU has met with DOJ and WorkSafe to discuss and review Occupational Violence concerns within prisons following recent incidents that have occurred and we highlighted some of the potential factors associated with these increases in violence.

Some of these factors contributing to potential increases in violence are;

• Problems with the prisoner classification process.
• Lack of accurate prisoner profile information being transferred between prisons and being made available to prison officers with the responsibility of managing the prisoner.
• Prisoners with varying behavioural issues and profiles being managed within the same unit/area.
• Increased numbers of prisoners entering the system with emotional and psychiatrically impaired conditions.
• Poor design of many prison officer stations that allow easy access to prisoner stations particularly from behind. (Officer stations do not take into account the profile or /and number of prisoners being managed from the one unit/area)
• No consideration to the profile of prisoners allowed access to recreational equipment such as pool cues, cricket bats and gym equipment.
• Significant increases in prisoner numbers putting pressure on facility design and operational controls.
• Lack of appropriate action taken by prison management in relation to prison officer assaults by prisoners. (i.e. it s part of the job! .... officer complacency is the issue, not design! .... the officer should have walked away and not of approached the prisoner!) These comments are becoming more frequent as CPSU is informed of incidents of occupational violence within Corrections.

DoJ and CV agreed to meet again in mid April to review the incident data related to Occupational Violence that DOJ, WorkSafe and CPSU had documented.

To assist us in presenting this data we need your urgent support in completing our Occupational Violence survey.

You will note that the survey will also pick up areas such as Prisoner Escort and Transport, Courts, Melbourne Custody Centre as well as both Public and Private Prisons.

In completing the survey please ensure privacy and confidentiality as we only want the information on where the incident occurred, the type, nature and impact of the incident and what actions if any were taken.

If you have any questions or concerns in relation to our OV survey please contact CPSU OHS Officer Carl Marsich on 9413 6645 or email on cmarsich@cpsuvic.org

You may wish to contact your Prisons union executive group by contacting Mark Nestor, Gary Greaves or John Milne.

CPSU Prisons Industrial Officer Christine Kells can also be contacted.

For CPSU to actively present your OHS concerns we need your urgent support so please complete the survey so the union can strongly advocate your interests.

Click here to complete our Occupational Violence survey.
http://www.cpsuvic.org/limesurvey/index.php?sid=19968‚å©=en

Please distribute this bulletin and ask your colleagues to join CPSU to have their voice heard and their views represented.

Our 7 day a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year industrial protection ensures you have the principal public sector organisation looking after your working rights, winning wage increases, protecting your conditions, and providing personal industrial assistance when you need it.


CPSU MEMBERSHIP IS PROTECTION FOR YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET. YOUR JOB.

Speak to a colleague today about the benefits of CPSU membership and have them contribute to our successes rather than just enjoying the benefits.


CPSU - 125 in 2010.

When 1,000 colonial public servants crammed into the Athenaeum Hall in Collins Street on 17 June 1885 to form the Victorian Public Service Association they had no idea that we d be still here and turning 125 this year.


TOGETHER WE DO BETTER!

http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/Work-Can-Change-membership-flyer.pdf
http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/memform.pdf


KAREN BATT
CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary

Wednesday 24 March 2010