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Washington D.C.—Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees face a range of serious—and what should be avoidable—workplace health and safety issues, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) told a House subcommittee today.

Among the problems are overexposure to emissions from forklifts and cargo tugs in the air cargo area, and the potential for excessive radiation exposure, the nation’s largest independent union of federal employees testified at a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce.

These results were shown in two studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which issued a number of recommendations for improvements, including better training on radiation issues and proper work practices and improved equipment maintenance.

“Despite these NIOSH recommendations,” NTEU said, “our members have not seen any personal radiation testing done.”

The subcommittee, which is chaired by Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), is examining issues surrounding workplace safety and health matters impacting federal employees, along with administration of the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), the law providing workers’ compensation coverage for federal employees.

NTEU is conducting an aggressive organizing campaign among TSA employees and is leading the fight for their collective bargaining rights. The union represents thousands of agency employees at airports across the country.

In its testimony, NTEU raised a serious concern among TSA employees that baggage screening areas are noisy, dirty and hot. At Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, for example, NTEU TSA members have recorded temperatures in excess of 90 degrees on numerous occasions—yet their requests for fans and bottled water have gone unanswered. TSA has a high injury rate, in part related to the heavy lifting, standing, bending and stooping required to handle passenger baggage.

Obtaining sick leave is another problem area for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs), NTEU said, citing the decision earlier this year at Los Angeles International Airport to institute a new leave policy for the entire summer.

Under it, employees would be required to provide “administratively acceptable evidence” for all use of sick leave—scheduled and unscheduled; the previous policy required such documentation for requests of more than three days of sick leave. Working with members of Congress, NTEU was able to have the previous policy reinstated.

NTEU emphasized in its testimony that collective bargaining rights for TSA employees would help the beleaguered agency figure out how to create safe and healthy work areas. “Until TSOs have collective bargaining rights, they will not have their needs met in the safety and health areas.”

Along with the meaningful workplace voice that would come with collective bargaining rights, NTEU called for a program of radiation testing at a number of airports, as well as ergonomic testing in baggage areas, a review of new technology that allows machines to perform heaving lifting, improvements in air quality, cleanliness and more.

“TSOs have many good ideas for improving health and safety at airports,” NTEU said. “A program should be set up so their suggested changes can be reviewed and implemented locally.”

NTEU also addressed issues faced by TSA employees when attempting to access FECA. TSOs have told NTEU they believe that at the local level, management efforts to meet injury reduction targets has created an atmosphere in which lowering the number of claims outweighs the rights of employees to appropriate treatment of injuries and the assurance of a safe workplace.

“Our members believe that even contacting (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) with a safety concern can result in a suspension or demotion,” NTEU said.

As the largest independent federal union, NTEU represents some 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.