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O'Hare Cuts Baggage Screening Injury Rates to Zero

News & Happenings

December 18, 2007

O'Hare TSO James Pomernacki stands between an EDS machine and the conveyor belt, showing how reducing the space between the two led to a 100 percent reduction in back injuries at the airport's Terminal 2 baggage lobby.
O'Hare TSO James Pomernacki
stands between an EDS machine
and the conveyor belt, showing
how reducing the space between
the two led to a 100 percent
reduction in back injuries at the
airport's Terminal 2 baggage
lobby.

Back injuries in the baggage lobby at Chicago O'Hare's Terminal 2 have dropped to zero after six explosives detection system (EDS) machines were moved closer to the conveyor belts. The move was completed in July, thereby reducing the distance transportation security officers (TSOs) have to move baggage.

"It makes working in the area safer and easier," said TSO James Pomernacki. "The improvements save time and energy."

Supervisory TSO Jim Samborski and Stakeholder Manager George Prescott worked together to implement the change.

In a different area of the terminal lobby, another EDS machine was moved closer to the conveyor belt and a new machine was slanted toward the same belt for easier access and use.

"Before, you were carrying the bags and now you just use one motion in moving the bags to the belt," said Supervisory TSO Joseph Barnes.