The BCGEU is calling for the creation of a tripartite working group to address worker safety following the completion of comprehensive WCB inspections of all provincial prisons. The group would include representatives from the BCGEU, BC Corrections and the WCB.

In a meeting yesterday, senior WCB managers and inspectors reported out on their inspections of provincial prisons which began in October 2012 and ended in December 2013. The inspections of the nine prisons led to 58 orders being issued for serious health and safety violations. Many of the orders have been corrected by the employer with only a few outstanding, such as safe egress routes and raised and enclosed staff stations. 

This inspection process came about because of sustained lobbying by your union. We would like to commend the WCB for the creation of this senior inspection team. Their thorough inspections, and the orders that were issued, will make our prisons safer for the men and women who work there. But much work remains to be done.

In addition to establishing a tripartite working group to address prison safety, the BCGEU is calling for:

• a halt to violence risk assessments being conducted by private contractors;
• a guarantee the BCGEU has full access to all risk assessments that are conducted;
• double staffing for inmate escorts/hospital shifts;
• the creation of a consolidated safety document to ensure a rigorous safety management system is in place in all prisons;
• proper health and safety training for Corrections Supervisors;
• Corrections Branch to report all serious injury incidents to the WCB;
• thorough investigation of all incidents; and
• consistent and timely implementation of corrective measures recommended by the OH&S committee and by incident investigators.

While the WCB has no legislated authority to address staffing levels, the BCGEU believes that overcrowding and officer-to-inmate ratios present health and safety risks. These risks cannot be minimized through design, engineering and operating procedures alone. Staffing levels need to be increased.

Other Canadian prison systems that are moving to a Direct Supervision model like B.C.’s are using officer-to-inmate ratios considerably higher than B.C.’s which could  see one officer assigned to a living unit with as many as 72 inmates.  

We would like to thank the Corrections Officers who participated in these inspections and met with the WCB inspetors. Your input was crucial. We would also like to thank the Health and Safety committee members for their important work.

We would also like to remind Corrections Officers that it is important you report every incident to your supervisor who has a legal obligation to investigate and correct a hazard. Only then can we work together to reduce hazards and prevent injuries.

The WCB has committed to working with the BCGEU to make our prisons safer. We remain committed to working with them and the Corrections Branch to ensure that our members work in a healthy and safe environment.

Dean Purdy- Component 1 Chair
Brian Campbell Component 2nd Vice Chair & Local 103 Chair
Sheila Moir-Staff Representative OHS
Mike Eso–Coordinator