Security Policy Alert: TSA Message to FSDs regarding Operational Flexibilities
March 17, 2020
TSA's Assistant Administrator for Aviation Operations Gary Renfrow shared with AAAE the following message sent to Federal Security Directors today regarding operational flexibilities. FSDs received a longer version classified as SSI that included specifics related to a number of procedures, including employee inspections under Advanced Threat Local Allocation Strategy (ATLAS). The message shared with AAAE is in italics below:
The health and safety of our employees, stakeholders and the traveling public is a top priority. Throughout the outbreak, we have been in close communication with medical professionals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), various government agencies, and our internal TSA task force to care for our people and ensure our continuing ability to carry out our mission.
Federal Security Directors shall continue to follow routine infection control practices. As such, employees may continue to choose to wear surgical masks while on duty. Employees choosing to wear surgical masks must complete the required training to ensure they understand how to wear the mask correctly.
As a means to further limit exposure to Coronavirus, the following precautionary measures should be followed to the maximum extent possible with the intent of increasing social distancing and reducing direct contact with those who may be infected, whether or not they display symptoms. We will continue to look to adjust our processes - and welcome your ideas on other opportunities to meet the intent of this guidance.
* Minimize Contact by temporarily suspending use of time cards and expedited screening cards currently in use.
* Create bag drop zones rather than conduct handoffs
* Revise TDC procedures to minimize actual contact with documentation
* Revise Divestiture procedures to increase social distancing and direct contact with officer placement and no-touch divestiture (advisements only), and adding a DO when and where able to ensure better divestiture/less pat downs
* Increase Social Distancing by metering passengers and placing visual targets on the floor, and increase space between queue lanes (providing for 6 feet of separation where able)
* Creating "clean" space where able by closing off lanes, portions of checkpoint, and entire checkpoints where volume permits and as coordinated for with local stakeholders
* While generally discouraging travel of vulnerable populations, separate most vulnerable passengers (as defined by CDC) and expedite through screening with use of TSA Cares and Passenger Support Specialists (promoted through social media and local signage)
AAAE will continue to keep you updated as we work with TSA and other federal agencies throughout this crisis. Please join us to get the latest information on our daily Coronavirus update call at noon E.T. Details can be found here.
TSA's Assistant Administrator for Aviation Operations Gary Renfrow shared with AAAE the following message sent to Federal Security Directors today regarding operational flexibilities. FSDs received a longer version classified as SSI that included specifics related to a number of procedures, including employee inspections under Advanced Threat Local Allocation Strategy (ATLAS). The message shared with AAAE is in italics below:
The health and safety of our employees, stakeholders and the traveling public is a top priority. Throughout the outbreak, we have been in close communication with medical professionals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), various government agencies, and our internal TSA task force to care for our people and ensure our continuing ability to carry out our mission.
Federal Security Directors shall continue to follow routine infection control practices. As such, employees may continue to choose to wear surgical masks while on duty. Employees choosing to wear surgical masks must complete the required training to ensure they understand how to wear the mask correctly.
As a means to further limit exposure to Coronavirus, the following precautionary measures should be followed to the maximum extent possible with the intent of increasing social distancing and reducing direct contact with those who may be infected, whether or not they display symptoms. We will continue to look to adjust our processes - and welcome your ideas on other opportunities to meet the intent of this guidance.
* Minimize Contact by temporarily suspending use of time cards and expedited screening cards currently in use.
* Create bag drop zones rather than conduct handoffs
* Revise TDC procedures to minimize actual contact with documentation
* Revise Divestiture procedures to increase social distancing and direct contact with officer placement and no-touch divestiture (advisements only), and adding a DO when and where able to ensure better divestiture/less pat downs
* Increase Social Distancing by metering passengers and placing visual targets on the floor, and increase space between queue lanes (providing for 6 feet of separation where able)
* Creating "clean" space where able by closing off lanes, portions of checkpoint, and entire checkpoints where volume permits and as coordinated for with local stakeholders
* While generally discouraging travel of vulnerable populations, separate most vulnerable passengers (as defined by CDC) and expedite through screening with use of TSA Cares and Passenger Support Specialists (promoted through social media and local signage)
AAAE will continue to keep you updated as we work with TSA and other federal agencies throughout this crisis. Please join us to get the latest information on our daily Coronavirus update call at noon E.T. Details can be found here.
