TSA recommends new safety measures at airports nationwide

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has published a set of security recommendations to ensure the safety of TSA employees and travelers at airports across the nation.

The report, titled ‘Enhancing TSA Officer Safety and Security at Airports: Agency Actions and Path Forward,’ follows an extensive review of the November 2013 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) shooting incident.

14 recommendations have been adopted, with a special focus on areas such as mandatory active shooter training, improved communication systems and policies, and enhanced law enforcement presence at checkpoints and ticket counters.

When finalising the report, TSA also incorporated input from the American Federation of Government Employees, as well as various travel-related associations, including members of the TSA Aviation Security Advisory Committee.

TSA administrator John Pistole said: "The report released today outlines the actions TSA took immediately following the shooting and new procedures to enhance the safety and security of TSA employees nationwide, especially those who work on the frontlines each and every day to protect the traveling public."

In order to improve officers’ safety and security, TSA has recommended bi-annual evacuation drills for its employees and extended duress alarm coverage at screening locations across the country, as well as links to CCTV systems.

The recommendations also include ensuring that all airports have explicit maximum response times and continue to have an increased Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) team presence at airports.

Additionally, the agency recommended standards for deployment of armed personnel at checkpoints and ticket counters during peak hours of passenger traffic.