» X-Ray

Threats

Crime & Terrorism

Terrorism is the use of force or violence against persons or property for purposes of intimidation, coercion, or ransom. The threat of terrorism has become one of the most disturbing aspects of modern life. Acts of…

Improvised Explosive Devices

The military bomb, as we generally recognise it, is a ballistic shaped object filled with large quantities of explosive and dropped from aircraft from the air. It is designed to explode on impact when it reaches…

Firearms

The term “firearm” generally refers to any lethal barrelled weapon from which any shot, bullet or missile can be discharged. Under the laws of many countries the term ”firearm” also includes any article having the…

Bladed Items

There are many bladed and sharp items that could be used as weapons in the hands of malicious individuals, so they are fobidden in hand baggage at most airports. These include: Knives, including kitchen knives,…

Postal Devices

In one of the most notorious postal device campaigns, Theodore Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, sent devices in the United States which killed three people and injured twenty-eight over a twenty-year period, from the late…

CBRN Threats

We have witnessed the emergence of new terrorist groups, including right wing extremists and extremist religious fundamentalist groups, whose aims are not to bargain with governments, nor to win over public opinion to their point…

Improvised Incendiary Device

An IID is a device designed to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract by creating intense heat and fire, rather than by exploding. Terrorists have often used IIDs to attack economic targets. IIDs are generally hand-carried…

Grenades

A hand grenade is a small hand-held anti-personnel weapon designed to be thrown and then explode after a short time. Hand grenades may appear in several shapes, sizes and constructions. Some contain explosives, while others…

Positive Threat Identification

Regular practice on a CBT system is essential to ensure that you are able to develop an awareness of the colours, densities, shapes and sizes that may suggest the presence of IEDs, weapons and other dangerous items…

X-Ray Basics

What are X-Rays?

X-rays are waves of electromagnetic energy which form part of the electromagnetic spectrum, along with other waveforms such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, UV waves and gamma waves. Human eyes are sensitive to the…

X-Ray Limitations

No security X-ray system has yet been produced that can make autonomous decisions for acceptable and reliable threat detection. All still heavily depend on human operators to view and interpret the images. It is vital…

X-Ray Imaging

When an item is X-rayed, some of the X-rays pass straight through and some are absorbed and do not come out the other side. It is the density (Atomic Weight) and thickness of materials that…

Checkpoint Roles

Roles and duties (rotating) at each security checkpoint utilising an X-ray Machine and Archway Metal Detector include the following: Loader Carries out risk assessments of passengers and selects those requiring enhanced security screening. The loader…

Operating Procedures

The information about Operating Procedures is provided here as a guidance only to compliment and not to replace procedures and guidelines used at your own locality/facility. Before operating an X-ray machine, a formal testing programme…

Hand Searching Baggage

All baggage items which exhibit suspicious signs, clutter or X-ray opaque areas must be thoroughly searched by hand Advantages of Hand Searching It’s straightforward (but must be done correctly, of course). It can be carried…

Searching Passengers

A pat-down search is an additional form of passenger screening performed if a person has set off a metal detector, or if he/she is selected for additional screening because of suspicious appearance/behaviour Pat-down searches are…

Health & Safety

You must always bear in mind the hazardous effects that X-ray beams can have on your own body. If you have a clear understanding of the nature of X-rays, then safety rules will be much…

X-Ray Technologies

Hold Baggage Screening

One of the most catastrophic bombings of an airliner was the 21 December 1988 destruction of Pan Am flight 103, a Boeing 747, over Lockerbie, Scotland caused by an explosive device placed in a hold…

Cabin Baggage Screening

The screening of hand baggage is a challenging process requiring a high commitment of manpower and resources to detect threats that may be well concealed among the millions of bags that are carried through airports…

Small Parcels

Terrorists and others wishing to cause harm or disruption have long used postal and courier services to deliver hazardous items to target recipients. Some X-ray machines are in the form of cabinet units and are…

Cargo Screening

Potential risks associated with air cargo security include: introduction of explosive and incendiary devices in cargo placed aboard aircraft; and shipment of undeclared hazardous materials aboard aircraft. Experts have warned that air cargo may be…

Screening people

Following the attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas day, 2009, many airports around the world are planning to implement full body scanners as part of their security checks. There have been…

CT Scanning

Recently, airports have adopted more advanced X-ray scanning systems to check passenger baggage for explosives, called computed tomography scans (also known as CT, CT scan, CAT, or computerised axial tomography). It uses X-rays to produce…

Test Pieces

Test Pieces are designed for routine testing of x-ray machines, and contain samples of materials of varying density. The STP – (Standard Test Piece) is manufactured to the U.K. Home Office, Department of Environment, Department…

X-Ray Screener