TSA Needs a Physical Agility Test

In the early 80's I traveled up and down the West Coast taking written, oral and physical agility tests to earn a place on the hiring lists as a firefighter and/or a paramedic. The written test narrowed those who would move to the next stage. The physical agility further narrowed those who would endure the oral exam.

Many of the stations in the physical test simulated tasks that would be expected of a firefighter or paramedic. For example, we would have to carry two fully loaded trauma boxes, one in each hand, while walking up three steps, walk down three steps, turnaround and repeat. We had a time limit to perform a certain number of revolutions. Another stage required us to take a bundled 50 foot length of fire hose off the back of a truck, load it on our shoulder, run 50 feet to the building, up four flights of stairs, drop the bundle, pick up another bundle and return it to the truck all within a couple of minutes.

The TSA needs to implement a similar physical agility test to determine if those applying are capable of performing the tasks assigned them. A March 15, 2005 GAO report (page 27 & 29), states "numerous federal security directors reported that on-the-job injuries related to lifting heavy baggage...were a significant concern at the airports for which they were responsible."

For some reason, these government employees are incapable of lifting heavy bags on and off the machines. Compare these employees to those of businesses such as Delta or Southwest. The agents at the ticket counter lift bags from the scales to the moving belt behind them without significant injury.

Oh, yes, how could I forget? The employees of private companies are only required to lift those heavy bags on to and not off of the moving belt.

If you cannot perform the tasks required of your job, then you need to find another. In the case of the TSA (government) employees, they keep their job and create a potential for a hole in security.