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Issue link: https://groundsupportworldwide.epubxp.com/i/814698
26 GROUND SUPPORT WORLDWIDE APRIL 2017 SECURITY E very day, millions of people head to airports around the globe. Some are going on dream vacations. Some are making moves across the country. Some are simply commuting for another day in the office. As they head through security lines, these travel- ers have a lot on their minds. Am I going to make it on time? Did I pack everything I need? Will I be able to get my coffee before I board the plane? While safety is often a concern, when passengers decide to travel by air, they're entrusting their lives and the lives of their loved ones to airline officials and airport employees who they assume are working to mitigate potential security risks at all times. Though obvious aspects of ensuring airport secu- rity – such as passenger identification measures and adequate screening of people and personal property before boarding flights – are widely discussed among airport professionals and laypersons alike, one area that is often overlooked is potential security threats posed by airport contractors. From facilities custodians to airplane mechanics to pilots, nearly one million contractors work behind the security wall at U.S. airports alone, according to CNN. And while security has significantly strength- ened since 9/11, a New York Committee for Occu- pational Safety & Health (NYCOSH) report shows better supply chain risk management via stricter contractor screening procedures could have helped identify situations therefore potentially preventing a number of deaths and injuries at major airports in recent years. So, what are the leading known, manageable risks associated with airport operations that are most fre- quently overlooked? And how can airports improve the contractor vetting process to mitigate the likeli- hood of behind-the-scenes safety and security issues that many passengers aren't even aware of? Everyday Tasks According to a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) study that examined accidents and dangerous occurrences in the air transport industry over a four-year period, improper lifting and handling is the top cause of employee injury, accounting for a notable 39 percent of the report's total anonymized and aggregated data. Despite the commonness and predictability of the activity, baggage lifting, in particular, results in significant muscular skeletal injury rates due to the ergonomics associated with handling heavy weight and the particulars of the position and height of the lift that's required, especially if done repetitively. The risk of injury also rises when performed in confined spaces in the cargo hold or amongst pas- sengers in the cabin by ground staff and cabin crew. Per the pie chart, shown on the next page, acci- dental slips and trips followed as the second most common injury type behind lifting and handling, accounting for 24 percent of total injuries. Being struck by an object ranked as the third highest reoccurring injury with 13 percent of the total. Although not included in this chart, work stress is another potential risk airport contractors and their employees are exposed to daily. As with any job, harmful physical and emotional responses can occur when the requirement of the job does not match the capabilities, resources or needs of the worker. Exposure to Unsafe Elements Apart from these everyday tasks that are inevita- bly a part of the job description, NYCOSH's sur- vey (cited above) of workers employed by some of the largest airline contractors operating at John F. Kennedy (JFK) and LaGuardia (LGA) airports reported hazardous materials, extreme weather and unsafe noise volumes as some of the harshest and potentially dangerous elements they are exposed to during the course of their workday. If unaware of the chemicals in the cleaning and disinfecting products they are using, workers run the risk of suffering eye, skin and respiratory infec- tions from inappropriate contact. Misuse can put Improved contractor vetting can mitigate safety and security issues before they even happen. By Mina Mina Mitigate Airport Security Risk Via Contractor Vetting