823.4 Dealing with Certain Situations

No matter how prepared a supervisor may be there still may be certain situations that will need to be immediately addressed. This article will help prepare supervisors for these types of situations.

Accidents

Care for the injured first! If bodily fluids are involved, MoDOT employees or inmates assisting the injured shall wear gloves or have a suitable barrier to keep from coming in contact with body fluids.

In life-threatening circumstances, contact your supervisor, the institution, and the district office and call for an ambulance to transport inmate to medical facility. If the injury is not life- or limb-threatening, the institution may elect to care for the inmate with in-house medical resources. If this might be the case, contact the institution through your supervisor or district office.

For minor injuries, the MoDOT employee may elect to continue the work detail until the conclusion of the day. However, if the inmate requests additional medical attention, the MoDOT employee shall contact their supervisor, Missouri Department of Corrections (MDOC), or district office for assistance.

The MoDOT employee shall fill out a MDOC Accident Report Form (MO 931-0426) for all injuries witnessed or reported to the MoDOT employee. This form shall be turned in when dropping inmates off, unless requested earlier by the institution. The MoDOT employee will provide the information on the sample report that is highlighted in blue. Those items highlighted in pink are for the institutions use. Only persons who visually witnessed the accident shall sign as a witness. Do not sign your name as a witness unless you actually saw the accident.

Disruptive Inmates

Inmates who won't work, are too personal or disruptive, use offensive language, won't take orders, or that violate any of the inmate rules shall be reported to the institution using an IOC or any other written note. Document any verbal warnings to inmates. Problem inmates will not be tolerated. Communicate with the work release coordinator at the institution regarding inmates that do not cooperate.

Escape

Under no circumstances shall a MoDOT employee try to stop an escape attempt. The inmate may be verbally discouraged from leaving, but the MoDOT employee shall take no physical action. The MoDOT employee shall direct their attention to the remaining inmates, keeping them assembled. The MoDOT employee shall contact the institution, local law enforcement, or the MoDOT contact (supervisor or district office) and report the escape attempt. The institution and the district should mutually agree upon a chain of notification. The MoDOT employee will give the following information: location of the crew at the time of the escape attempt, number of inmates involved, registration numbers of the inmates involved, method and direction of travel. The MoDOT employee will monitor communications and provide additional information as requested.

Sick Inmates

If at all possible, sick inmates should remain with the crew for the day. If an inmate becomes too sick and is not able to work, the MoDOT employee shall contact their supervisor, or phone the institution directly so the institution can pick up the inmate. If the inmate can continue to work, but at a reduced pace, the MoDOT employee may use discretion as to whether to work the inmate or have the inmate picked up.