Police are working to determine how two maximum-security inmates were able to arm themselves and overpower a prison guard who they took hostage.
The drama unfolded at Hobart's Risdon Prison on Friday morning and lasted about two hours, jail boss Brian Edwards said.
"He was manhandled and pushed into a cell by two prisoners," Mr Edwards said of the officer.
"These prisoners then brandished a makeshift weapon and threatened the member of staff."
No one was injured during the stand-off and a negotiator was able to talk down the inmates.
"I never received any demands," Mr Edwards said, adding he has no idea what sparked the event.
The inmates had made "shivs" with which they were armed.
"These incidents will occur in prisons ... and I'm classing this as a very good resolution to what normally happens in prisons," Mr Edwards said.
The prison director said he was satisfied with staffing levels at the maximum-security wing and proud of how his officers responded to Friday's incident.
Police interviewed the inmates after the stand-off and will try to determine what caused the incident.
Risdon Prison has made headlines repeatedly in recent months after the deaths of three inmates.
One died from a pre-existing medical condition while police say the other two took their own lives and are now the focus of a coronial investigation.
The prison enforced a smoking ban in February.
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