Prison officers don’t want to return to troubled Olearia Ward at Barwon Prison

A number of prison guard do not want to return to a troubled ward at Barwon Prison following a string of incidents earlier in the year.

A typical cell inside Barwon Prison. Picture: Alison Wynd

A number of prison guards do not want to return to a troubled ward at Barwon Prison following a string of incidents earlier in the year.

A guard employed at the prison confirmed there were a number of concerns among staff regarding returning to Olearia Ward when it reopens.

It is understood Olearia Ward remains closed following investigations into a string of what were initially suspected to be gas leaks beginning in late March that caused health issues for staff.

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which represents staff at Barwon Prison confirmed one worker had raised a complaint while others had expressed reluctance.

They said no officer would be forced to be rostered in that unit.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) has since insisted, following an independent report, a gas leak had been ruled out.

“Following an extensive independent investigation, a gas leak has been ruled out as the cause of incidents affecting some staff at Barwon Prison,” a spokeswoman said in June.

“The report has advised that the Olearia Unit is safe to reopen.

“As part of the report recommendations, Corrections Victoria will provide air-monitoring systems for the unit so staff can be reassured that the environment is safe.

“Corrections Victoria will consult with WorkSafe Victoria, the local health and safety representatives and the CPSU prior to staff and prisoners returning to the unit.”

The Geelong Advertiser reported last month the independent report commissioned by the DJCS suggested workers who claimed they fell ill during the suspected gas leaks could be suffering from psychological reactions rather than actual exposure.

The executive summary of a report produced by VA Sciences, after being engaged by the DJCS, found the cause of the symptoms experienced by staff could have been a “psychosomatic response” to another staff member collapsing.

A psychosomatic response is when the body displays physical symptoms caused or made worse by mental stress.

The executive summary of the report, seen by the Geelong Advertiser, investigates events that occurred on March 29, April 3 and April 7 at the Olearia Ward at Barwon Prison.

According to the summary, the likely cause of the odour experienced by staff on March 29 was an electrical fault in an “undetermined piece of control room equipment”.

It was reported last week armoured vehicles would be used to move some of the state’s most dangerous criminals to a new facility next to Barwon Prison in one of the biggest mass prisoner transfers in Victorian history.

The staggered move will relocate about 900 inmates from Port Phillip Prison in Melbourne’s west to the new $1.1bn Western Plains Correctional Centre next to Barwon Prison.

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Originally published as Prison officers don’t want to return to troubled Olearia Ward at Barwon Prison