Security Briefs - Feb. 1 - Feb. 7
- More Senate Staffers Complain of Illness From Irradiated Mail
- Man Arrested After Trying to Break Into Cockpit
- DOT Won’t Contract With Argenbright Security
- Bush Reinforces $20 Billion Pledge for NYC
- Security Rules Strike Home
- Airport Security Costs Greater Than Anticipated
- Threatening Note Turns Flight Away From Salt Lake
- U.S., Canada Will Set New Border Rules
- TSA to Study Security at 15 Airports
- Screener Inexperience Likely Forced Airport Evacuation
- Pennsylvania Gov. Enhances Security
- Man Arrested After Trying to Break Into Cockpit
More Senate Staffers Complain of Illness From Irradiated Mail
Seventy-three U.S. Senate employees have reported health problems including headaches, eye irritation and skin rash after handling irradiated mail, the Washington Post reported Thursday.Mail to some District government offices is currently shipped by truck to and from facilities in Lima, Ohio, and Bridgeport, N.J., for irradiation as a precaution against contamination by anthrax spores.
The General Services Administration issued a cautionary advisory to federal workers in the District last week, saying that workers may "minimize" potential problems by wearing nonlatex, powder-free gloves or asking others to open their mail if they have sensitive skin, the Post said.
However, some are questioning whether staff members are feeling ill from chemicals used to decontaminate the Hart building and not from the mail, the Post said. Transport Topics
Man Arrested After Trying to Break Into Cockpit
A passenger on a United Airlines flight from Miami to Argentina tried to force his way into the cockpit on Thursday, before being restrained and then arrested when the plane touched down in Buenos Aires, news services reported.The man, reportedly from Uruguay, appeared to be mentally disturbed, Reuters said.
Officials did not immediately say whether or not he was armed, but said he tried to break the cockpit door. Transport Topics
DOT Won’t Contract With Argenbright Security
Although the government needs to hire and train 30,000 airport security workers by November, the Transportation Department said that it will not do business with Argenbright Secufrity Inc., the nation’s largest airport-security outfit, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.Since air cargo is often carried to and from airports in trucks, significant airport delays could affect the way trucks do business.
DOT said alleged misstatements by the company made last year while applying for work at U.S. embassies was the main reason behind its decision, the Journal said.
Several security breaches at airports since Sept. 11 have been involved Argenbright workers, and four of its passenger screeners at O'Hare Airport in Chicago were fired in November after allowing a man to carry knives and a stun gun through a security checkpoint. Transport Topics
Bush Reinforces $20 Billion Pledge for NYC
During a speech in New York City Wednesday, President Bush reaffirmed his pledge of $20 billion to help the city recover from September’s terrorist attacks, the New York Times reported.The money would go to help bolster the city’s economy, which has been severely damaged by the attacks. New York City is a huge market for consumer goods and if its economy turns around, it will be a boon for local trucking companies.
Bush made the $20 billion pledge in the days immediately following the attacks. Transport Topics
Security Rules Strike Home
The heightened sense of security that has followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks manifested itself at Transport Topics Publishing Group Tuesday when a package of materials sent to a potential advertiser was rejected – twice.The package was returned bearing a sticker that said “Surface Transport Only Due to Heightened Airline Security.”
However, the package was also rejected for surface transport because – again according to a U.S. Postal Service sticker – all domestic mail weighing more than 16 ounces must be presented to a retail clerk in a post office.
As it shall be. Transport Topics
Airport Security Costs Greater Than Anticipated
Despite President Bush’s proposed $4.8 billion for airport security, congressional leaders are expecting a request in the coming months for an additional $5 billion in funding for training and installation of explosive-detection devices, USA Today reported Tuesday.Nearly half of the proposed $4.8 billion would come from fees paid by airlines and a new tax on passengers. Additional costs could be passed onto the consumers through higher ticket prices or higher prices on shipping airfreight, which could affect demand for trucks that pick up and deliver air cargo.
Rep. John Mica, chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, said that it's absolutely essential that Congress provide whatever funds necessary to make sure airports are secure, the article said. Transport Topics
Threatening Note Turns Flight Away From Salt Lake
A Delta Airlines flight from Denver to Salt Lake City was forced to turn around in the air on Monday night because a passenger found a threatening note on board, news services reported.Since most passenger planes carry air cargo in their holds, such incidents can disrupt ground transportation networks, including trucks.
A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson said the flight took off from Denver at about 6:45 p.m. local time, or 8:45 p.m. EST, and returned 30 minutes later. Passengers said that the pilot announced they were returning to Denver, but failed to give a reason, Reuters reported.
The plane landed and was searched as all the passengers were subjected to another security screening, Reuters said. Transport Topics
U.S., Canada Will Set New Border Rules
The United States and Canada are ironing out new border security plans to be introduced at June’s G-8 summit, the Vancouver Sun reported Monday.The goal is to ease delays at border crossings while maintaining security for both countries.
Canadia Deputy Prime Minister John Manley and Tom Ridge, U.S. director of homeland security, met at the World Economic Forum this weekend in New York to discuss plans and progress. After the meeting, Manley told the Sun that the first changes in border security would be small.
Manley did admit that progress has been slow on a 31-point plan the two nations agreed upon in 2001 for creating a “smart border,” the article said. Transport Topics
TSA to Study Security at 15 Airports
The Transportation Security Administration, which takes over airline security on Feb. 17, will study passenger and cargo security at 15 airports during the next six weeks as it develops new procedures for all commercial airports, the Associated Press reported Friday.Since air cargo is often carried to and from airports in trucks, new security regulations could also affect the way trucks deliver that cargo.
Outside consultants and government employees will recommend changes to make the procedures more effective and convenient, AP said.
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said the TSA wants to create a system that emphasizes consistency, both in security and in the treatment of travelers.
Among the airports are Anchorage, Alaska; Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago's O'Hare; Dallas and New York's John F. Kennedy. Transport Topics
Screener Inexperience Likely Forced Airport Evacuation
The screeners that let a man disappear into a crowd at San Francisco International Airport on Jan. 30 after explosive residue was detected on his shoes left the man unattended while they searched for their supervisor, the Associated Press reported Monday.Airplanes often carry freight, so delays caused by security breaches could affect truck deliveries of airfreight.
The screeners, employed by Argenbright Security, also failed to immediately contact the Federal Aviation Administration. A spokesperson for the union that represents the screeners at SFO said that they might have been searching for the man and trying to cover for their original mistake, the AP said.
Also contributing to the delay was a disconnected phone at the screening checkpoint, the AP said. Nearly an hour passed before the terminal was evacuated.
The man has not been found yet, AP said. Transport Topics
Pennsylvania Gov. Enhances Security
Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker said Friday that he was taking steps to enhance security including conducting criminal checks and fingerprinting all truck drivers with a hazardous materials license, as well as starting more random hazmat checks on highways.Schweiker also said he wants stiffer penalties for individuals committing identity fraud and to ensure that the expiration dates for non-U.S. citizen licenses expire on the same day immigration visas do. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
