Guards in prisons ‘urgently need PPE’

THE union for prison guards has renewed calls for urgently needed protective gear after the assault of two officers at Lotus Glen.

A prison officer suffered burns to his upper body after he was allegedly splashed with hot water on Tuesday.

Queensland Correctional Services (QCS) has confirmed the attack took place about 12.30pm yesterday when an “agitated” prisoner threw a cup of hot water at a worker at the unit’s officers station.

Together Union representative John Stack said the incident followed a weekend assault that saw a corrections officer splashed with an “unknown liquid” as he walked past a cell.

Mr Stack said both assaults highlighted the need for personal protective equipment including pepper spray for individual officers.

“We have been asking for safety equipment for quite some time,” Mr Stack said.

“We have had to fight very hard for that equipment since the overcrowding and violence increased.

“Personal pepper spray gives each officer the ability to defend themselves and withdraw from a situation.”

He said select officers currently had access to spray but it was not on individual issue.

It is understood that the Department of Corrections has agreed to personal pepper spray but not yet issued the equipment.

“We won’t see it until the end of the year or even next year,” Mr Stack said. “There is another brick wall with COVID and lack of supply. ”

The department has been asked for comment.