Changes in order at local prison

KAMLOOPS – Changes have been ordered following a review of the local prison that turned up multiple health and safety breaches.

Three senior WorkSafe B.C. inspectors completed a compliance assessment of the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre from Sept. 23 to 26, as part of a review of the nine jails in the province.

A report on the local inspection was released this week, highlighting six orders to be addressed.

The assessment concluded regular inspections weren't conducted, unsafe or harmful working conditions weren't fixed efficiently, work areas didn't allow safe movement, a risk assessment wasn't conducted, an exposure control plan was out of date and a fit test for respirators to ensure they had an effective seal were done.

The BCGEU, who helped push for the inspections throughout B.C., expressed satisfaction of the assessment. Members were concerned over several norms in the prisons such as officer/inmate ratios, hospital escorts, protection equipment, and the formation of a a committee to address health and safety issues.

A full copy of the report can be found online.

To contact a reporter for this story, email: jwallace@infotelnews.ca, call: (250) 319-7494 or tweet: @jess__wallace.