Two Qld jails locked down over protests

A Queensland jail remains in lockdown after inmates climbed onto a roof during a 13-hour protest against a statewide smoking ban in prisons.

The protest at the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre near Gatton, which ended about 2am on Tuesday, was one of two separate protests at state prisons this week.

Five inmates climbed onto a roof to protest against the ban which came into affect on Monday.

A Justice and Correctional Services spokeswoman says authorities are looking into the cause of the unrest and if charges will be laid.

United Voice union's prison spokesman Michael Clifford says the smoking ban has created tensions between guards and inmates.

He says the lives of prison workers are in danger.

"The government maintains this smoking ban was implemented to create a safer workplace, however it's clear it has had the opposite effect," Mr Clifford said in a statement.

"Our officers are paying the ultimate price by being put in even more danger."

The Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre in Ipswich also remains in lockdown after two prisoners also climbed onto a roof on Monday, reportedly to protest over their access to the prison oval and food.

Investigations into that protest are also continuing, a government spokeswoman said.

Smoking has been banned in Queensland prison cells since 2008, but the new ban extends this to other areas of the state's correction centres.