Stress levels in prison officers four times highers than average
- 01.08.2017
- EmmaArnold
- Personal-injury, Personal-injury, Personal-injury, Personal-injury
Prison officers are suffering from more stress in the workplace than the national average, according to recent figures.
The study comes as a rise in the number of assaults and suicides were reported and are taking their toll on the staff at the prisons.
Reports show the system itself is under strain at full capacity resulting in an increase in occupational stress of 50% in the last four years.
The total number of days prison officers took off work in 2015-2016 due to stress came to 30,000 days.
This equates to almost two days per officer which is a day and a half higher than the national average.
A prison guard was stabbed in the neck by an inmate at one prison a few months ago and 16 officers from another are currently off sick due to inhaling 'spice'.
The synthetic cannabis substitute was blown from the cells and inhaled by the officers as secondary smoke.
One officer suffered from raised blood pressure and his pulse-rate was at a dangerous level. He is now having nightmares, is agitated, has mood swings and is weepy.
The Ministry of Justice released figures this week which show assaults on prison staff are at an all-time annual record and in the last quarter hit the highest numbers ever.
Richard Edwards, senior solicitor at Potter Rees Dolan, has expertise in claims for occupational stress and said:
This is the latest in a string of very worrying articles about the prison system which is clearly in crisis. The levels of stress reported are off the scale and unacceptable.
The Ministry of Justice owes a duty of care to all officers to provide appropriate staffing levels so that they call feel safe in the challenging environment they operate in. This is a fundamental and basic requirement, not an optional extra.
Read the case study of a man who suffered with occupational stress here which Richard settled for £100,000.
Richard Edwards specialises in personal injury claims. Should you have any queries about the issues raised in this article and wish to speak with Richard or any other member of the team please contact us on 0161 237 5888.