CD 567-2: Responding to Alarms

Institutional Head Responsibilities

• Ensure sufficient personal portable alarms for staff, with backup for malfunctions, at permanent locations and designated posts per shift
• Establish Standing Orders detailing:
  • Primary and secondary responder protocol for alarms
  • Locations of permanent personal portable alarms
  • Daily assigned personal portable alarms for staff
  • Locations of fixed-point alarms
  • Staff training instructions on all types of alarms
  • Procedures for testing the fixed-point alarm system including cell call alarms, reported every 30 days via CSC/SCC 0774 Security Inspection Report
  • Procedures for testing, transferring, and recording personal portable alarm tests
  • Procedures for adding, removing, or relocating alarms
  • Contractor and volunteer alarm use
  • Proper storage of spare personal portable alarms

Personal Portable Alarms

• Daily issued alarms are tested at the start of each shift at the assigned location, with results recorded
• Permanently assigned alarms are not moved unless faulty
• Staff must wear assigned alarms at all times; refusing to wear is a disciplinary offense
• Inmates are prohibited from possessing or operating alarms
• Staff activate alarms when personal safety, others' safety, or security is seriously threatened, and other notification methods are ineffective

Cell Call Alarms

• All alarms are treated as valid alerts; designated personnel respond according to procedures
• Correctional Officer/Primary Worker visually verifies inmate well-being before resetting the system
• Upon taking over a post with a cell alarm monitor, the Correctional Officer/Primary Worker:
  • Verifies that the monitor is on and functioning
  • Verifies that all cell call alarms are enabled
  • Reports immediately any malfunctions to the Correctional Manager
• Alarms can't be disabled without Correctional Manager authorization
• Before disabling an alarm in an occupied cell, the officer verifies the inmate's well-being
• Disabling an alarm usually lasts a maximum of 15 minutes
• If disabling for more than 15 minutes, the officer verifies inmate well-being every 15 minutes and records observations in the range logbook

Specific Security Unit Requirements

• In men's medium, maximum, and multi-level security units (excluding minimum security), Treatment Centres, and women's secure units, a minimum of two officers must be present at the cell when responding to a cell call alarm or observing an inmate needing medical assistance. One additional officer must monitor the range via observation or camera.