Washington — The leader of a union representing airport ramp workers says that although the Federal Aviation Administration’s plans for a voluntary worker questionnaire are a “good step forward toward improving safety,” more data and a broader research scope can better ensure “improvements for all ground workers.”
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 requires the agency to “evaluate airport ramp worker safety, with a focus on identifying and reducing accidents related to ingestion zones and jet blast zones,” FAA says.
To comply with the mandate, FAA will distribute voluntary questionnaires to airport ramp workers, ground service providers, airline operators and safety personnel. The agency says it will use stakeholder information about experiences, observed hazards and safety training to “identify trends, gaps in training or procedures, and opportunities for regulatory or operational improvements.”
FAA asked for feedback in September. Comments were due Nov. 25.
In comments dated Nov. 25, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers Union General Vice President Richie Johnsen says the IAM Union Reporting System could be a “valuable asset to the FAA’s ramp safety initiative.” He wrote that, “unlike isolated surveys,” the model enhances data by analyzing OSHA logs from major airlines against member reports. Incident records offer details on equipment, location, causation and severity to help create predictive modeling and real-time problem-solving.
“What sets our platform apart,” Johnsen continued, “is its actionable scope – it goes beyond counting incidents to driving real change: revised safety protocols, improved equipment standards and enhanced worker training. It should also be noted that ground handling is the only sector of aviation without a federal oversight standard.”
In another comment submitted to FAA, Greg Regan, president of AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department, called on FAA to network with labor organizations to distribute the survey to a wider base.
“Tragically, in the last few years, there have been injuries and fatalities among ramp workers directly attributable to inadequate training and faulty equipment,” Regan wrote. “Every day, airport ramp workers encounter serious hazards, including jet blasts, engine ingestion, tire explosions and various vehicular accidents, often with limited protective measures in place.
“Ramp workers’ jobs are physically and mentally demanding, and their risks are exacerbated without proper training.”
