Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

54100.27 Health or Safety Complaint (CALPIA)

• Inmates employed by CALPIACalifornia Prison Industry Authority (formerly PIA) shall submit any complaint concerning perceived health or safety hazards relating to prison industries to the prison industries’ safety committee, in accordance with Labor Code (LCLabor Code) and Industrial Relations regulations.

  • The CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Form 602 shall not be used for the purpose of such complaints. A Cal/OSHA form for the reporting of alleged safety or health hazards may be used, but is not required.

  • A health and safety complaint should not be used by inmates as a substitute for verbally or otherwise informing staff of an urgent health or safety situation requiring immediate response or action.

• An inmate who believes a health or safety hazard exists in a CALPIACalifornia Prison Industry Authority (formerly PIA) operation is afforded the opportunity to submit a written complaint.

  • The complaint shall be deposited in a readily accessible complaint box or presented to any CALPIACalifornia Prison Industry Authority (formerly PIA) staff member, including the inmate supervisor, member of the health and safety committee, or the affected shop superintendent or their equivalent.

  • Any CALPIACalifornia Prison Industry Authority (formerly PIA) staff member receiving a written health and safety complaint for an inmate worker shall direct it to the health and safety committee for review and response.

• If the inmate finds the committee’s conclusions to be unsatisfactory for any reason, he or she may request the complaint be forwarded to the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).

  • The CALPIACalifornia Prison Industry Authority (formerly PIA) Health and Safety Unit shall coordinate the submission of any health and safety complaint submitted pursuant to this section which cannot be resolved by the Safety Committee or for which the complainant is not satisfied to DOSH.

  • DOSH shall determine whether any complaint is bona fide and respond in accordance with the requirements of LCLabor Code Subsection 6304.3(b).

• Should the inmate believe that retaliatory action has taken place as a result of the complaint, the inmate may file a CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Form 602 appeal of this alleged retaliation with the institution appeals coordinator.