You applied and were accepted in an internship program of a state-level, Female Correctional Health Care Operation in the South Eastern United States and your primary responsibility is to work on the

Sample Tool Control Policy

TOOL CLASSIFICATION

1. All tools and controlled items shall be classified under three general headings:

1. Class AA-extremely dangerous tools: This category includes those tools that would be classified as Class A tools, but due to their nature in the correctional setting are not appropriate for storage within a secured facility. The use of these items within a secured facility must be strictly controlled, supervised, and limited. At a minimum these items include bolt cutters, ladders over six feet in height, scaffolding, hilti gun (or similar) kits with charges, metal cutting saw blades, hacksaw blades, files, ban saw blades, mixing chambers, any diamond tipped tool, hydraulic jacks, porta jacks, core drills. Each facility shall determine any additional items that fit this category. Extremely dangerous tools must be removed from the institution at the end of each work day or stored inside a combination locked safe inside a Class A tool room, stored in the Armory or turned into the control center. Procedures for storing and issuing these items shall be discussed later in this policy.

1. Class A-hazardous tools: This category includes those tools most likely to be used in an escape or escape attempt; used to manufacture or serve as weapons capable of doing serious bodily harm; or are hazardous to institutional security or personal safety. Consumables such as welding rods and sandpaper are considered class “A” tools and need to be addressed with perpetual inventories and appropriate storage.

1. Class B-non-hazardous tools: This category includes those tools which are not likely to be used in escapes or escape attempts; not used to manufacture or serve as weapons capable of doing serious bodily harm; or are not hazardous to institutional security or personal safety.

STORAGE IN WORK AREAS

1. Class "AA", Class "A", and Class "B" tools shall be inventoried, marked, secured and shadowed separately at all times when not in use.

All Class "A" tools shall be stored in areas secured by at least two separate solid locked doors and inmates shall never have access to these areas. A centralized tool storage area for this classification of tools is required which shall be manned by a designee of the superintendent to which the keys shall be restricted to that person only and secured in glass front box in the main control center. This tool storage area must be designed in such a fashion so unauthorized entrance is physically reduced. In such the rooms must be of solid design from floor to ceiling without windows or if windows are present, bars equivalent in strength to the control center must be installed.

1. All Class "B" tools shall be stored in an area secured by at least one locked door and separated from inmate traffic. If the Class "B" storage area is in conjunction with a Class "A" storage area, then the design must be of the solid type construction with security hardware and locks as described in Section 2 above. If only Class "B" tools are to be stored in the area the design can be such as is normally associated with an administrative office within a secure facility. The keys to this area must be restricted to one person but may be located on the main key board.

1. Class "AA" tools may only be stored inside a secure facility in a combination locked safe within the Class "A" main tool storage area that meets all the requirements set forth in Section 2 above. Storage of “AA” tools is not permitted inside a secured facility satellite tool storage area, such as an industries or vocation shop. All other Class "AA" tools shall be removed from the facility and stored either in the Armory, Main Control Center, or other outside structure with equivalent design features, no inmate access and limited staff access. Whenever Class "AA" tools enter a secured facility the entrance officer must log the item into the facility to include the time, date, item, staff member supervising the tool, and the area to be visited. The entrance officer should then notify the shift commander. These tools must never be left unattended within the facility.

CONTRACTOR'S TOOLS

1. The front entrance officer or rear gate officer shall inventory all visitors and contractor's tools on an approved form prior to entering and departing the institution. A copy will be given to the escorting staff member. The original will be maintained by the entrance officer. Upon the contractor’s exiting the facility, the original will be used to complete the inventory by the exiting officer. Only those tools absolutely necessary to the project shall be allowed inside the institution. Class "A" and “AA” tools must be approved by the shift commander prior to their admittance. Contractors shall be under staff escort and supervision while in the institution. Any discrepancies in the tool inventory shall be handled as outlined in Section 511.16 and the contractor shall remain at the facility until attempts at tool recovery have been completed.

CONTROL OF FLAMMABLE, HAZARDOUS AND POISONOUS MATERIALS, AND CHEMICALS

1. All flammable, hazardous, poisonous and toxic materials shall be considered Class "A" items. This includes such items as gasoline, alcohol, ditto fluids, acid, glue, insecticides, etc.

1. Inventories shall be maintained for these items. They shall be drawn by an employee only when authorized by the department supervisor. The issuing officer shall record the date, time, amount, and name of the employee receiving the item.

1. These items shall be stored in a non-flammable storage cabinet or other suitable storage cabinet, in accordance with Class "A" storage requirements as outlined in this policy.

1. All flammable and toxic materials, other than gasoline, shall be stored in its original container. The manufacturer's label shall not be removed.

1. Gasoline and other flammables shall be strictly controlled to prevent use in the manufacturing of bombs or committing arson.

1. All gas pumps shall be outside the facility and locked when not in use.

1. Gasoline shall not be stored or carried in any type container except an approved safety can. The can shall be painted red, with the word "gasoline" painted clearly on the side in yellow, with a one-half inch yellow band around the container, as per OSHA regulations and local fire codes.

1. Movement of gasoline into the institution for use in small engines (e.g., lawnmowers) shall be supervised by an employee. All gasoline powered small engine operations shall be directly supervised by a staff member. All gasoline powered small engines must be equipped with locking gas caps and metal shields over the fuel lines for entry into the institution.

1. Lawnmowers and other small engine equipment shall be removed and stored outside the institution when not in use.

1. All excess oxygen, propane, acetylene, and other gas tanks (full or empty) shall be stored in a secure area, outside the institution perimeter, inaccessible to inmates. They shall be chained together and locked to an immovable object. Tanks stored within the facility must be approved by the director of security or superintendent's designee. The decision should be based upon the tank's necessity for the functioning of the facility and not just convenience. All tanks stored inside the facility must be locked to an immovable object. Empty tanks may not be stored inside the facility. All tanks when moved from their designated storage site must be used under constant staff supervision and returned to storage immediately after use. At no time shall they remain out of storage overnight. Mixing chambers shall not be stored under any circumstances inside the facility and shall be removed from the facility immediately after use. Combination Acetylene/Oxygen tanks with non-detachable mixing chambers shall not be stored inside the facility. Torch tips, hoses, regulators, etc., shall be handled in accordance with Class "A" tool specifications delineated in this policy, but shall not be stored in the same or adjacent area where any tanks are stored.

1. Adherence to the provisions of 103 DOC 730 is also required.

CONTROL OF DANGEROUS DRUGS AND HYPODERMIC APPARATUS:

1. The control of narcotics, dangerous drugs, and hypodermic apparatus shall be the responsibility of the hospital administrative officer.

1. Syringes, needles and lancets shall be disposed of outside the institution as required by Law. Storage of these items until disposal shall be coordinated with the director of security or Warden's designee so as to insure security and inaccessibility to inmates. Syringes, needles and other medical/dental sharps are to be controlled similarly to Class "A" tools. Lancet management will be conducted in accordance with health service policy and procedure.

1. Disposable scissors, I.V. needles, and tubing shall be disposed of outside the institution as required by State Law. Storage of these items until disposal shall be coordinated with the director of security or Warden's designee so as to insure security and inaccessibility to inmates. These items are to be controlled similarly to Class "A" tools.

1. A perpetual inventory of narcotics must be maintained.

1. Reserve stocks of hypodermic apparatus shall be kept in a vault or safe in a hospital office not accessible to inmates.

1. A perpetual inventory of all needles, syringes and other medical/dental sharps by size shall be maintained.

1. Only the minimum number of syringes, needles and other medical/dental sharps necessary or the proper operation of any unit of the hospital should be available for daily use, being kept in a convenient, and at the same time, safe place.

CONTROL OF FOOD SERVICE EQUIPMENT

1. The control of food service tools and knives shall follow the same basic procedures for all other tools, as outlined in this supplement. All knives shall be considered Class "A" tools.

1. A knife cabinet shall be constructed in each food service area which shall contain all knives. They shall be marked and shadowed in accordance with the standards of this policy. The cabinet shall be secured with a security padlock and the construction shall be the same as for any Class "A" storage area.

1. A food service staff member shall inventory, using an inventory form similar to the attached sample, all knives maintained in the knife cabinet twice each day (once in the morning, and once in the evening before departing the area). Once the inventory is co-signed by another food service staff member as a witness, a copy shall be delivered to the shift commander. After reviewing for accuracy this copy shall be forwarded to the director of security or superintendent's designee for filing. If any discrepancies are noted immediate attention shall be given.

1. Items from the knife cabinet shall be checked out by employees utilizing a metal chit. If the item is to be used by an inmate, the employee shall record the inmate's name and number on the accountability form along with the check out and check in times. This form shall be maintained in the knife cabinet.

1. Knives shall not be transported by inmates. An employee shall issue and retrieve the knife at the inmates work station. When a knife or other Class "A" tool is utilized, all entrances and exit doors to the kitchen area and dining room shall be secured. Inmates should refrain from utilizing knives or other Class "A" equipment during the feeding of any meal, but if necessary may utilize them under direct supervision. AT NO TIME SHALL KNIVES OR SIMILAR TYPE EQUIPMENT BE PERMITTED IN THE DINING ROOM DURING THE FEEDING OF ANY MEAL.

1. Yeast shall be handled and dispensed only by food service employees and kept under direct supervision until such time as the yeast is thoroughly incorporated as an ingredient in the item to be prepared. After yeast is incorporated into the dough, but uncooked, the trays of unbaked goods shall be kept in a refrigerated area, yeast shall be stored in a metal box secured to an immovable object (bolted to the floor) and locked with a security padlock. An inventory record shall be kept in this box, which shall indicate the date, quantity issued, receipts, balance on hand and the initials of the responsible employee making the entry. Inmates are not permitted to draw yeast from the yeast storage box under any circumstances.