Eight Tasmanian correctional officers took time off work due to psychological injuries in the 2015-16 financial year, with correctional officers logging 39 lost time injuries in total.
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But the government says initiatives to ensure the health and safety of correctional officers are working, with the number of officers on stress leave for one week or more almost halving in the last financial year.
The 39 lost time injuries comprised of eight psychological leave claims, 13 sprains and strains, and 18 classified as “other injury type”, which the Justice department said could include knocks to body parts, being stabbed, burns, eye injuries and being spat on.
Eight correctional officers were on psychological leave as of July 1, with five of those on leave for more than 12 months.
Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Tom Lynch acknowledged the prison service was a high stress environment but said the number of lost time injuries was too high.
He called on the government to do more to avoid injuries and help officers return to work earlier.
Mr Lynch said the service was operating with 35 fewer staff than needed to fill up the daily roster, which he said increased the risk of cumulative stress and fatigue.
On top of the reduction in lengthy psychological claims, a government spokesperson said a new integrated Workers Compensation Claims Management model had seen a “significant improvement in return to work figures”.
The spokesperson said staff on psychological leave were offered a range of support services and stressed the prison service was continually improving the working environment for staff, such as through a “significant reduction in overtime”.
The government is investigating additional welfare support, as well as introducing mandatory sentences for assaults against correctional officers.
Labor Justice spokeswoman Lara Giddings said the figures demonstrated the extreme pressure faced by Tasmania’s prison staff.
Ms Giddings said the government had failed to make significant changes to the prison sector despite “incident after incident” occurring.
Franklin Greens MHA Rosalie Woodruff warned government plans to abolish suspended sentences would lead to increased prisoner numbers and a higher risk of correctional officers suffering trauma and stress.