"You better run dogs, cause you are dead," still rings in his ears, nearly two years after the riots.

About 400 inmates at the Metropolitan Remand Centre caused up to $12 million of damage during aJune 2015 uprising in response to the introduction of a smoking ban.

Dozens of staff suffered physical and psychological injuries as a result of the 15-hour rampage.

Mr Kent had only been a prison officer for eight months when he went to work on the morning of June 30. He said there was a sense of "uneasiness" in the air.

"About 9am ... a couple of prisoners actually said to me ... 'it isn't a great day to come, boss'," he said.

Mr Kent informed his superiors and was told to be vigilant, but was reassured that everything was in control.

But at about 12pm it became clear that everything wasn't.

"...You could hear this yelling coming from the yard outside, it was like a herd of rhinoceros, like cattle," Mr Kent said.

"Then all of a sudden a siren went off and a Code grey was called, which is a riot."

Mr Kent and other officers were asked to lock the inmates in his area and evacuate all the staff, including administration officers.

"In my time, there was no evacuation drills as to where to go," he said. "We were told to run."

He made it outside but was sent back in to help - this time without his radio.

During the next 10 hours, the father of two was repeatedly sent into the prison to confront, arrest and contain the rioting prisoners - working without even any water to drink.

"I was scared," he said.

'We had nothing, there was no police ...we had no radio ...the phones were dead.

"There were certain times throughout the afternoon ..when I accepted the fact that I [was] not going to get out."

In December, the Department of Justice and Regulation was charged with criminal safety failures over what was the largest prison riot in the state's history.

The department was charged by WorkSafe Victoria with four breaches of workplace health and safety laws, including failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace, failing to ensure the workplace was safe, and failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to risks.

Mr Kent is now suing the department.

Shine Lawyers General Manager Stuart Le Grand said the department had failed to keep Mr Kent safe.

Mr Le Grand said Mr Kent and other workers were repeatedly asked to return unarmed to a facility "overrun by high-risk offenders".

He said they were taking action on Mr Kent's behalf to ensure he received financial support and access to treatment and care while unable to work.

"We are also investigating a potential action against the Department of Justice for actions that were taken on the day of and in the time surrounding the siege which we believe led to Matthew's injuries," Mr Le Grand said.

"This is about accountability and justice for a man who put his life on the line to serve his community."

Mr Kent, who now suffers from panic attacks, said after the riots were contained he was given no assistance and drove home on his own.

"It took me three hours to complete the 45-minutes journey because I had to keep pulling over," he said.

"I kept hearing the noise of smashing, the explosions, the helicopters.

"I kept thinking I was going to pass out. And then I didn't hear from them. Didn't even get a phone call 'are you okay'?"

Opposition spokesman for Corrections Edward O'Donohue is asking the government to apologise to Mr Kent.

Mr O'Donohue, who raised the issue in the Victorian Parliament on Wednesday, said the psychological impact of working as a prison officer needed to be considered.

"While there is much talk about the financial costs, there is an enormous human cost following the government's failure to prevent the worst prison riot in Victoria's history," Mr O'Donohue said.

While refusing to comment on the individual matter, a Department of Justice spokesman said the welfare of its staff was of the utmost importance.

Corrections Minister Gayle Tierney said they continue to support staff affected by the incident.

"Senior management also continues to work with prison staff to make sure they feel safe and secure in their place of work," she said.

Mr Kent, who is on WorkCover leave, said the incident had changed him forever, leaving him unable to trust even his wife and children.

"Every day, I think about it," he said.

"Even today, if I close my eyes, I can still see the riots and the deaths threats made against my life. And all I did was turn up for work."