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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 12:52 am
Time: 12:52 am
Results for workplace hazards
1 results foundAuthor: Olotu, Michael K. Title: Evaluation Report: Ontario Region Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Inflammatory Spray Pilot Project Summary: On November 16, 2009, CSC’s Ontario Region commenced the Oleoresin Capsicum Inflammatory Spray Project (OC-ISP) pilot in three institutions – Kingston Penitentiary, Collins Bay Institution and Fenbrook Institution. The pilot was intended to examine the effectiveness of OC spray in responding to and resolving security incidents in a timely manner. Given that OC spray was available in strategic command posts in these institutions before the project pilot, the pilot was also intended to examine whether correctional officers wearing the OC spray canister on their duty belts would have an operational impact on population and situation management in the institutions. In May 2004, the warden of Kent maximum security institution in the Pacific Region issued blanket permission for correctional officers working in the living units of the institution to routinely carry OC spray on their duty belts. This decision was necessitated by an elevated threat risk assessment and actions by offenders that could jeopardize the safety and security of the institution. Once the conditions within the institution had returned to a “normal manageable state”, the warden rescinded the authorization and returned the OC spray to the control posts at the end of the ranges to be obtained when necessary. On July 26, 2004, 16 correctional officers refused to return to the workplace without OC spray on their duty belts, citing unsafe work conditions under Part II, Section 128 of the Canada Labour Code. An Occupational Health and Safety Officer assessed the condition and rendered a decision that danger did not exist. The correctional officers appealed the decision to the Occupational Health and Safety Tribunal. On March 29, 2010, the Occupational Health and Safety Tribunal of Canada rendered a decision and rescinded the 2004 decision of the Health and Safety Officer and concluded that “from the evidence that the potential hazard could reasonably be expected to cause injury to a correctional officer before the hazard could be corrected and so a danger exists”. The Appeals Officer also concluded that the “danger facing the appellants (correctional officers) does not constitute a normal condition of employment” and directed CSC to take immediate measures to ensure that the safety and health of the correctional officers on the living units was protected. On September 2, 2009, six correctional officers at Kingston Penitentiary in the Ontario Region were involved in an incident which resulted in the stabbing of one of the correctional officers. As a result of these incidents, the request by correctional officers to wear the OC spray canister on their duty belts as a personal protective tool became a high interest to the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO). The evaluation of OC-ISP was requested by Ontario Region’s Deputy Commissioner in December 2009 with the objective to assess OC-ISP pilot results and the effectiveness of OC spray in responding to and resolving security incidents in a timely manner, and whether correctional officers wearing the OC spray canister on their duty belts would pose any problem in population and situation management in the institutions. These key evaluation questions were assessed in accordance with the Treasury Board Secretariat’s Evaluation Directive focussing on relevance, performance (effectiveness, efficiency and economy) and implementation. The evaluation report is intended to foster EXCOM discussion on OC-ISP pilot results and the possibility of expanding the project outside the Ontario Region. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service Canada, Evaluation Branch, Policy Sector, 2010. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: File #394-2-86: Accessed October 9, 2010 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pa/ocspray/ocspray-eng.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pa/ocspray/ocspray-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 119909 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsCorrections OfficersOleoresin Capsicum SprayWorkplace Hazards |