A self-defence course for Customs Officers has been modified following injuries to a number of participants. According to a report in Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper, up to 146 trainees had been injured in the two years to December 2007, prompting the workplace safety authority Comcare to call for modifications. Since the course was redesigned in April of this year, however, the newspaper reported another 28 injuries had occurred. Customs’ Deputy Chief Executive for Border Enforcement, Marion Grant, said she was surprised Comcare had intervened in the course.
Comcare orders modifications
“The use-of-force course is designed as a safety training course to provide our officers with a safer set of skills for the high-risk environment in which they're working,” Ms Grant said.
Deputy President of the Community and Public Sector Union, Michael Tull, said the Union was concerned about the high level of injuries. “We recognise it is strenuous and serious training, but it appears the level of injuries remains unacceptably high and further work needs to be done,” Mr Tull said. He said it was worrying that Customs had ignored staff concerns and had only responded after Comcare intervened. According to the newspaper, officers suffered injuries ranging from fat lips to broken bones and concussion while undertaking the hands-on defensive tactics training. Around 34 of the 146 incidents were regarded as ‘slight’, and included soreness and soft-tissue damage. Eleven people tripped over exercise mats, with six officers needing time off work from fractured arms, fingers, knuckles and wrists. The training course was introduced following the 2005 decision to increase the number of Customs Officers allowed to carry guns. The number of customs officers carrying guns increased from 200 in 2005 to 1,000 this year.
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