SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Transportation Security Screeners

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Security Screener
  • Transportation Security Officer (TSO)
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What do Transportation Security Screeners do?

Transportation Security Screeners are essential personnel responsible for ensuring the safety and security of passengers and transportation systems within airports and other transportation facilities. They conduct thorough screenings of passengers, baggage, and cargo to prevent any prohibited items from being carried on to aircraft or entering secure areas of transportation infrastructure. Screeners utilize various detection equipment, including metal detectors, X-ray machines, and advanced imaging technology, to identify potentially dangerous items, including weapons, explosives, and other contraband. In addition to their technical role, Transportation Security Screeners also engage with the public, providing information and assistance, and ensuring that security protocols are followed. Their work is critical in maintaining the overall security of air travel and in enhancing public confidence in transportation safety.

What the work actually is

  • Inspect carry-on items, using x-ray viewing equipment, to determine whether items contain objects that warrant further investigation.
  • Search carry-on or checked baggage by hand when it is suspected to contain prohibited items such as weapons.
  • Check passengers' tickets to ensure that they are valid, and to determine whether passengers have designations that require special handling, such as providing photo identification.
  • Test baggage for any explosive materials, using equipment such as explosive detection machines or chemical swab systems.
  • Perform pat-down or hand-held wand searches of passengers who have triggered machine alarms, who are unable to pass through metal detectors, or who have been randomly identified for such searches.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Abilities

  • Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Selective Attention The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Flexibility of Closure The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Inductive Reasoning The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Knowledge

  • Public Safety and Security Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

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How people get into it

Education of new hires

High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Some college, no degree
Less than high school diploma

A normal week

  • Getting Information
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Performing General Physical Activities

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Electronic mail software Email software · Microsoft Outlook
  • Cloud-based data access and sharing software Slack
  • Human resources software Applicant tracking software · Oracle Taleo
  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Computer based training software Rapiscan Threat Image Projection

Tools

  • X ray radiography examination equipment Backscatter imaging units · CastScope machines · X ray security inspection equipment
  • Two way radios Mobile radios
  • Metal detectors Handheld metal detectors · Walk-through metal detectors
  • Weapon or explosives detectors and supplies Explosive detection systems · Explosive trace portals
  • Notebook computers Laptop computers

Who it suits

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

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Questions people ask

How much do Transportation Security Screeners earn in South Africa?

Transportation Security Screeners salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Transportation Security Screeners do?

Inspect carry-on items, using x-ray viewing equipment, to determine whether items contain objects that warrant further investigation, Search carry-on or checked baggage by hand when it is suspected to contain prohibited items such as weapons and Check passengers' tickets to ensure that they are valid, and to determine whether passengers have designations that require special handling, such as providing photo identification.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.