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U.S. airport radiation scanning operators poorly trained, poorly protected

The international consultant also said that TSA personnel at the scanners don’t even wear radiation detection devices.

Expert: Scanner Training More Intense Outside of US, AOL News, Andrew Schneider, 20 Dec 10, “………Transportation Security Administration screeners in the U.S. receive less training than cast members and full-time employees at Disney World, who train for several weeks or even months, depending on the position involved, according to the expert, who spoke to AOL News on condition of anonymity because he has contractual agreements with various governments and airlines.
The Government Accountability Office told Congress that the training for the average TSA monitor is about a week and a half in classrooms. And even then, investigators found that trainees often did not have time to complete the reading for the courses, it said.

“The staff is encouraged to simply sign off on the materials and receive credit for taking the courses without providing evidence of reading or understanding the information,” the report said.

Also, according to that report, the entire process seems hodgepodge.

“The agency does not have documented standard processes to update training based on current information, such as the results of officer testing,” it said. “While TSA officials explained they have a process in place to guide training
enhancements, they acknowledged the process is informal and not documented.”
The report is titled “Transportation Security Administration’s Management of Its Screening Workforce Training Program Can Be Improved.”

The international consultant also said that TSA personnel at the scanners don’t even wear radiation detection devices.

Next time you’re in the emergency room or at a nuclear power plant, you’ll see that everyone involved with radioactive material wears a small dosimeter to monitor how much radiation he or she is receiving while working near the source.

AOL News asked the TSA why its personnel don’t wear the radiation detectors. The TSA has yet to answer.

Expert: Scanner Training More Intense Outside of US

December 21, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, USA