Correctional Officer Recommends Slash Resistant Shirts Following Brutal Assault

A correctional officer, who has survived one of the most shocking assaults on correctional prison staff in the UK, is now recommending slash resistant shirts to help protect his colleagues.

Craig Wylde, who was brutally assaulted at Frankland High Security Prison on 13th March 2010, strongly believes that the severity of his injury would have been significantly reduced if he would have been issued with slash resistant shirts.

Craig was left with a severed artery in his left arm after the incident, and is currently taking 30 tablets per day to cope with the physical and psychological pains. Craig has also been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

He is now very keen to campaign for an improvement of the personal safety of fellow correctional officers around the world.

UK based PPSS Group are the manufacturer of such slash resistant t-shirts.

Their CEO Robert Kaiser, his very passionate team and many correctional officers from a number of countries say it without question that such type of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) makes clear operational sense and would not restrict the wearer’s movement or restrict him in his duties.

“There is no doubt in my mind, concealable slash resistant shirts, worn underneath a prison officers shirt, and not aggressive looking at all, will help reduce the risk of workplace violence related injuries within corrections facilities”, claims Robert Kaiser.

He continues by saying:

“What has happened to Craig Wylde has now happened.  He knows only too well that we cannot turn back the time.  However, we both feel very strongly that something must be done, otherwise we will soon look at a fatality within this sector, which could be prevented by the issuing of the right type of protective equipment or clothing”.

Robert Kaiser’s recent blog on this subject can be viewed here and is titled: “Following outrageous attack, survived prison officer recommends cut resistant t-shirts”

PPE in general is not about eliminating the risk of workplace violence related injuries.  It is all about reducing the risk within an environment where a risk has been identified.

Robert Kaiser is now highlighting the risks prison and correctional officers are facing every day they go to work.  He is determined to ensure that the request by these professionals to be issued with correct PPE will not be ignored and not forgotten.