CIRC 3: HEALTH AND SAFETY NOTICE

Branches should be aware the Director General of Public Prisons Phil Copple has issued the attached safety instruction to all prison Governors.

In the instruction Governors of establishments must carry out a review of existing local risk assessments of the significant items which prisoners could fashion into weapons, and ensure that appropriate controls are in place to manage this risk, by the end of January 2020; in all cases, this must include razor blades and, where applicable, tins and tin lids, and ceramic items.

In addition, the instruction to Governors states the following PSI 09/2016 sets out their Accommodation Fabric Checks (AFCs) policy and has guidance for completion of this risk assessment. The guidance covers risk factors such as physical security breaches, fashioning escape aids or weapons, storing illicit items, and considerations relating to the level of staff contact with prisoners and to dynamic security.

The PSI itemises the mandatory elements of an AFC that must be covered. It also instructs staff conducting an AFC to take into account any decency issues and take appropriate action. Some establishments have augmented the mandatory security elements of an AFC with other checks (for example, checks on inundation points). All Governors must ensure staff carry out AFCs in accordance with local instructions, which must in all cases be compliant with PSI 09/2016. This again must be completed by the end of January 2020.

PSI 09/2016 states there is no central mandate for establishments outside of the High Security Estate to conduct Accommodation Fabric Checks (AFCs) on a daily basis. Establishments outside the High Security Estate are required, therefore, to carry out a risk assessment to determine the frequency of AFCs required.

Director General of Public Prisons Phil Copple reiterates it is important that Governors engage locally with Trade Union branches when they revisit your local risk assessments and Safe Systems of Work.

The National Executive at yesterday’s NEC meeting decided to advise all local committees in England and Wales to request an extra-ordinary Health and Safety meeting to discuss the Phil Copple letter and any specific safety concerns they may have locally. Ideally, these meetings should take place within a week of 24th January 2020 and the minutes of these meetings should be shared with your NEC Representative.

Yours sincerely

 

JOE SIMPSON
Deputy General Secretary

Attachments

• POA Circular 003-20 - Health & Safety Notice.pdf

  1.42 Mb, pdf