A.18 Prisoner Physical Recreation Activity (National Policy)

Policy Standard 

Prisoner physical recreation activity will be managed in a way that promotes PS Duty of Care responsibilities and ensures the health and safety of all participants, while also maintaining the security of the Prison.

Performance Standard

1. All new arrival sentenced prisoners will have a Health Information to Unit Staff / Sentence Planners (OMM.3.F5) completed to ensure that they can safely participate in physical activities.
2. Prisoners shall receive the Weight Training Principles Information Booklet before participating in weight lifting.
3. All young prisoners under the age of 18 years shall receive instruction from a Tertiary Qualified Instructor before engaging in unsupervised weight training activities.
4. A competent person (ACC Sport Smart trained) shall supervise all prisoner contact sport activities to ensure correct sport techniques that minimise the risk of injury are being adhered to.
5. A qualified physical instructor should give advice on weightlifting techniques to all prisoners on a quarterly basis.
6. Continued participation in any physical activity shall be dependent upon acceptable behaviour as determined by the Unit Manager.
7. All equipment, gyms, fields and yards should be checked on a weekly basis by a competent person to identify hazards that have the potential to cause serious harm and ensure that corrective action is undertaken. Activities should not be performed if the hazards are significant.
8. All PS sites must report any prisoner physical activity related accidents and maintain a site database to assist with developing preventive measures to mitigate risk.

What do prisoners need before participating?

• All sentenced prisoners must have had a complete health screening assessment as per PPM section "B.06 Prisoner Health" to ensure they can safely participate in Physical Recreation Activities.
• All sentenced prisoners must be checked by Health Services and have the Health Information to Unit Staff / Sentence Planners (OMM.3.F5) completed. Remand prisoners do not have this form completed by Health Services.
• All prisoners must receive the Weight Training Principles Information Booklet.
• All prisoners must complete the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (A.18.01.F1 - PAR-Q) form and Physical Activity Authorisation form (A.18.01.F2) and have the form forwarded to a Unit Case Officer for sign off before participating in physical activity.
• All prisoners should be made aware of correct sport techniques for minimising the risk of injuries.
• Prisoners are provided with information booklets printed by ACC or other relevant sporting bodies (i.e. NZRU, NZRL) in respect to contact sport.