DH occasionally works with explosives....

[DisMN]

DH works with/around explosives on a regular basis. He hasn't been stopped before but if we run into new or different security screenings this could be a problem.
Any suggestions on how we can prepare/clean before we leave?

Will a normal shower just prior to leaving remove traces of explosives? How about his shoes and clothing, which are more apt to be contaminated unbeknownst to us.

To say I'm worried right now is an understatement. LOL
If they did pull him aside for extra screening would that be the end of it or could he be denied boarding or worse?

(totally aware there may be no firm answers to my question...I mean honestly, not many people have to deal with this issue do they? LOL)

 

[onelilspark]

I would be surprised if you got a full answer to this question...that being said, I don't think your husband is the only one who works with explosives. I would allow extra time to get through security, in case he is pulled aside for questioning. I would also have your husband ask his employers how to deal with the situation.

 

[DisMN]

GOOD IDEA about him asking his employers! Didn't even dawn on me to do that!!

Funny to see someone named "onelilspark" answer an explosives question. LOL LOL




OT but amusing little story: We have a relative who works law enforcement specializing in underwater search and rescue. He teaches other law enforcement teams around the country on how to do underwater bomb search and recovery as well.

Several years ago he had to travel down to Fla with his equipment, including his special dummy bombs. Going there he had his equipment packed in his checked luggage and being that the *bomb* was fake it had no innards...so wasn't detected on the xrays.

On the way home he decided for some reason that he would do carry on with his *bomb* and a few other small items.

Now I never said this relative was the brightest bulb in the bunch LOL........
and of course he was stopped by security. No big surprise that it took him over 3 HOURS to get clearance to fly! LOL

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

You should probably also check directly with the TSA to see what arrangements need to be made.

 

[bumbershoot]

Along with everything else, I would bring business cards, company letterhead, description of his job, etc.

DH is a product tester and has to bring all sorts of electronics, not all of which is for sale yet, ON the plane with him. He brings business cards and a letter describing his job and what the items are.

So I'd do that and more for your husband's job!

 

[TillyMarigold]

I travel with a CPAP machine that is always swabbed, and once last winter I was using a loaner machine (mine had broken) and I guess the industrial cleaners they use on it between patients can be used to make explosives, because the machine tested positive. They questioned me for about 2-3 minutes, put it and the rest of my bags through the scanner again, patted me down, searched the CPAP case thoroughly, then let me go. That was at my home airport, where the TSA folks are always nice--I was really worried what would happen on the way back at Newark, but they didn't swab it there.

I agree about asking his employers and getting a letter on letterhead.

 

[DisMN]

Thanks for all your input. I'll see what we can dig up in the way of documenting his job. Actually we're flying out locally so I'm betting they'll be used to this kind of thing....as the mines are a what we're all about up here.

 

[roadtripper]

I'm no help, but that may be the most unusual DIS post I've ever seen!
Good luck, and tell him to go commando that day

 

[Lisa75]

My husband is on the bomb squad. One time he freaked me out when I was flying without him but using as a carry-on a bag we share that he has taken to training before. He told me about the swab thing and that not to panic if I am flagged due to trace amounts of explosives on the bag. I just had his business card with me in case. I think something official looking on company letter head is the best idea and if he has some kind of employee ID as well. And in the event you are flagged, just be calm.

Easier said then done, I know. When he told me that I thought I was going to faint going through the line at TSA. Nothing came of it. He has never been flagged when traveling, but maybe he was never randomly selected for swabbing. Good luck.

 

[xbonnie38]

okay i am sure I will get major guff for what I am about to say , but I am a say whats on my mind kinda person. I read your post and this is what came to my mind ...call me crazy. If your husband works around explosives all the time should'nt he already know if he has traces of any substance on him and how much would show up at an airport or in a scanning situation?
And with what just happen on a plane not to long ago the man who tried to set one off but thank god failed ,,,Why would you ask a question like this in an open forum, to be very frank could you tell me what plane you'll be on so I am not on it,,,I know I sound like a paranoid freak but know one in their right minds would give you the answer your looking for ...Its like saying hey they might have an explosive lets tell them how to hide trace substances and get them on that plane!...I'm just Sayin...now let everyone put me in my place but as stated in beginning I say what I'm thinking

 

[DisMN]

okay i am sure I will get major guff for what I am about to say , but I am a say whats on my mind kinda person. I read your post and this is what came to my mind ...call me crazy. If your husband works around explosives all the time should'nt he already know if he has traces of any substance on him and how much would show up at an airport or in a scanning situation?
And with what just happen on a plane not to long ago the man who tried to set one off but thank god failed ,,,Why would you ask a question like this in an open forum, to be very frank could you tell me what plane you'll be on so I am not on it,,,I know I sound like a paranoid freak but know one in their right minds would give you the answer your looking for ...Its like saying hey they might have an explosive lets tell them how to hide trace substances and get them on that plane!...I'm just Sayin...now let everyone put me in my place but as stated in beginning I say what I'm thinking

I won't call you crazy but paranoid, yes, a little bit. (Honestly I do get your concern and wondered myself whether I should even ask the question but I'm a say/ask what's on your mind kinda person too. LOL LOL)

Now to answer your question...DH works in close proximity to explosives and his job sometimes entails walking the blast site before and AFTER the big-badda-booms. He trudges through the blast materials in his work boots, picks it up on his clothing, occasionally holds a rock that was just blasted out of the ground....even brings interesting ones home once in a while. When you work in a mine you are exposed to the explosives and stuff to make things go boom whether you want to be or not and some of that tracks into my house, whether I want it to or not.
There really is no way to know HOW contaminated you are and it's just not something we or anyone we know talks about or dwells on, ya know? It's just how life is here when this is the kind of job you have. Not at all unusual, not in the least.

We've never really worried about it before but if security has been beefed up recently, you just never know if they'll be checking for it and if so I wanted to get some thoughts and ideas from others.

 

[NotUrsula]

okay i am sure I will get major guff for what I am about to say , but I am a say whats on my mind kinda person. I read your post and this is what came to my mind ...call me crazy. If your husband works around explosives all the time should'nt he already know if he has traces of any substance on him and how much would show up at an airport or in a scanning situation?
And with what just happen on a plane not to long ago the man who tried to set one off but thank god failed ,,,Why would you ask a question like this in an open forum, to be very frank could you tell me what plane you'll be on so I am not on it,,,I know I sound like a paranoid freak but know one in their right minds would give you the answer your looking for ...Its like saying hey they might have an explosive lets tell them how to hide trace substances and get them on that plane!...I'm just Sayin...now let everyone put me in my place but as stated in beginning I say what I'm thinking

It isn't like saying that at all. LOTS of substances *can* be used in explosive manufacture, but in most cases that is not how the person came into contact with it. For instance, about 70% of US farmers and their families might test positive for ammonium nitrate traces if they walked across the equipment yard before getting in the truck to go to the airport, because it is fertilizer. Ammonium nitrate is supposed to be fertilizer, that is what it was invented for, but there are people out there who will use it to blow things up, so it's on the list to be tested for.

A person who was carrying explosives in any kind of usuable quantity ONTO the aircraft would not be able to wash it off ahead of time, seeing as how they would still be carrying it. The presence of the trace sets off a secondary search, and at that point we have to trust the TSO to determine the difference between a bomber and a guy who happened to deliver a UPS package to a mine yesterday.

OP, I agree with the PP who advised asking his employer. They no doubt deal with this issue all the time when employees have to fly for business.

 

[bumbershoot]

...should'nt he already know if he has traces of any substance on him and how much would show up at an airport or in a scanning situation?

... know one in their right minds would give you the answer your looking for ...Its like saying hey they might have an explosive lets tell them how to hide trace substances and get them on that plane!..

How would they know how much might be on them and how much would show up? I doubt that explosives operators are given the TSA equipment books to study from.

I personally think the OP got some really good answers, NONE of them telling them how to hide things. All of them telling them how best to explain the substances.


I would also recommend, OP, giving yourselves plenty of time. It's much better to get through security fast and have, say, 3 hours in the airport, than to leave too little time, have him pulled aside to make SURE that the readings are from mine explosives, and then be running for the plane.

All my husband takes onboard are electronics, cords, modems, and such, but he makes sure to get there nice and early. Since the stuff he's carrying isn't on the market yet, he wants to make sure they have time to inspect it! Hasn't happened yet, but it could, and he doesn't want to have to run to a gate. We did that at LAX once, it was not fun!