by Lamiat Sabin
in Southport

PRISON officers in fear for their health called for more measures to protect them from diseases and attacks at work yesterday.

Delegates at the Prison Officers Association (POA) meeting in Southport unanimously voted for their employers to provide them with hepatitis and tetanus inoculations due to injuries caused by volatile prisoners.

Serious assaults by prisoners are at an all-time high with incidents increasing by 32 per cent last year compared to 2013.

A proposal for a £30 shift payment for any officer who works through a “dirty protest” — where prisoners defecate or urinate around their cell — was also passed with a huge majority. It is currently an additional £10.

Proposing the resolution, HMP Liverpool delegate Mark Fairhurst said that even the larger sum would only be enough to “dry-clean the stench out of a uniform.”

Officers exposed to biological hazards are at risk of potentially contracting diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C.

Jackie Marshall of the POA national executive council said that it agreed “with the sentiments of the motion, but it is too prescriptive” calling on prison representatives to vote against the allowance raise.

However, Mr Fairhurst returned to the stage to say that officers were “forced to work in inhumane conditions” and he is not ready to give up the fight.

“It’s not on,” he added, to a rapturous round of applause.

Delegates also called on the NEC to ensure the provision of fire safety equipment — which was passed — after it was announced that officers have to wear plastic bags over their heads to avoid smoke inhalation.

POA national chairman Peter McParlin said: “Health and safety has to be the core to everything we do.

“We owe it to our members to ensure that nothing replaces the legal obligation of an employer, and employee, to respect health and safety legislation.”