Draft rules for screening air travellers with prosthetic limbs

The government has come out with draft standard operating procedure to be followed for screening of air travellers with prosthetic limbs.
The move is part of efforts to ensure that such people do not face inconvenience during security checks at airports.
There have been a number of complaints that prosthetic limbs of passengers were being removed at the time of frisking at airports, according to a communication from the ministry.
The draft standard operating procedure has been prepared after detailed deliberations among the ministry and security agencies.
"A prosthetic appliance which does not have any foam padding cover under which any weapon/ explosive can be concealed and in which the steel rod of the appliance is clearly visible, may be screened by visual inspection and ETD (Explosive Trace Detection) checks only, without removing it," as per the draft.

According to the ministry, X-ray screening could be resorted to in rare cases. The justification for subjecting a prosthetic limb to X-ray screening shall be recorded by the screener in a register, it added.

X-ray screening of prosthetic appliances in which a weapon could be concealed under the foam padding would be done in all cases unless it can be physically checked.
"If X-ray screening of the prosthetic limb is required, such passenger should be taken to a private screening point and made to sit comfortably for taking off his/ her prosthetic limb.
"While dealing with prosthetic device and during removing and wearing clothes, privacy of the passenger should be maintained along with the proper log entry," the ministry said.

The draft standard operating procedures would be open for public comments till September 17.