The Employment Relations Authority in Christchurch has rejected CANZ’s application to declare that PPS could not move, in Canterbury Prisons, to standalone nightwatch.

CANZ challenged the move on health and safety grounds under the Health and Safety in Employment Act, which is incorporated into our Collective Employment Agreement.

In it’s decision, the Authority accepts that inmates and their potential to cause harm is a significant hazard. The Health and Safety Act requires hazards, where they cannot be eliminated, to be minimized as far as is reasonably practical. Based on the law, determined by the Courts, the Authority considered whether the steps that PPS were proposing to take fulfilled that requirement.

The Authority in coming to its determination considered the harm posed by inmates to corrections officers. It determined that PPS were taking all reasonably practical steps in minimising this. Included in this consideration was the fact that no harm had occurred to officers from inmates, at night, in the standalone units.

The Authority has required PPS to consult further with CANZ, prior to the introduction of the standalone nightwatch, to clarify and finalise any new or revised operating procedures.

CANZ is very disappointed in this outcome. CANZ’s National Officers will now consider the detail in the Authorities determination before making a decision on the appropriate response.

CANZ National Officers