ATL Steps Up Airport Worker Security

Feb. 27, 2015
Before the new measures, employees only had to swipe their badges to gain access to secure areas of the airport. Now private security guards are checking their bags and personal belongings.
(CNN)The country's busiest airport has started screening employee bags before allowing workers into secure areas and shutting down access doors to the airfield in the wake of a gun-smuggling operation, CNN has confirmed.

Until recently, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport had about 70 access points for what's called "back of the airport" employees, including baggage handlers and ramp workers. The workers were not subject to bag and body check screening when going to work.

Before the new measures, employees only had to swipe their badges to gain access to secure areas of the airport. Now private security guards are checking their bags and personal belongings before they are allowed to enter a security door at the main terminal.

"There's a phased-in approach to get to full employee screening," airport spokesman Reese McCranie said.

More details here.