An audit of the health and safety performance of each prison is carried out every two years by health and safety advisers. The audit focuses on the procedures in place for implementing the requirements of health and safety legislation. A report is prepared for governors which include any deficiencies identified during the audit, the actions required to ensure compliance with legislation and Prison Service guidance and timescales for implementation. Additionally, governing governors are required to regularly monitor health and safety performance in their area of control.
While prison governors are contracted to be “all hours worked”, there is an expectation that they should work a notional 42-hour week. Obviously due to operational requirements they may be called upon to exceed this, but line managers are responsible for ensuring that staff do not regularly exceed working hours set out in the European working time directive.