Jan 10, 2008 5:04 am US/Mountain
Discipline Issued For DIA Deicing Deficiencies
CBS4 Unedited Servisair Classroom Undercover Video: Clip 1 | Clip 2 | Clip 3
Contact reporter Brian Maass at bmaass@cbs.com
DENVER (CBS4) ―
Denver International Airport has handed down stern discipline to four top managers of Servisair, a deicing company caught cheating and cutting corners in a CBS4 investigation broadcasted 2 months ago.
The investigation found the largest deicing company at DIA spoon-feeding test answers to job applicants, guaranteeing anyone who applied for a deicing job with Servisair would pass a battery of tests required by the 22 airlines Servisair deices at DIA. Servisair conducts deicing operations for every major airline at DIA except United, which has its own deicing crews.
The probe also caught the company falsifying official airport forms, allowing untrained employees to drive around the airfield without the instruction required by airport regulations.
Servisair quickly fired one trainer, who was caught on tape handing out test answers to job applicants.
Now, DIA managers have imposed their own discipline.
Mark Nagel, the airport's Acting Director of Security, notified Servisair last month that four of its employees' security badges were being suspended or revoked for violations of airport rules and regulations.
The airport suspended the security badge for Servisair's General Manager at DIA, Richard 'Woody' Woodruff for 30 days for two infractions, "Interfering with Security Procedures" and "Unacceptable Conduct in Restricted Area."
Woodruff was also informed he will no longer be allowed to authorize forms showing that Servisair employees have completed the airport's driver training. DIA told Woodruff if he incurs a similar violation in the next two years, his airport ID badge may be suspended for 6 months.
John Kinney, DIA's Manager of Airport Operations, explained that suspending an employee's security badge is a serious step, as it prevents them access to secure areas of the airport, severely diminishing their usefulness to their employer.
Also disciplined by DIA, Office Supervisor Tabitha Bellington, who was caught on an undercover camera forging an official airport document. DIA revoked Bellington's airport ID badge, which led to her being fired by Servisair.
When contacted by CBS4, Bellington confirmed Servisair fired her after her security badge was terminated.
DIA managers also suspended the security badge for 14 days for another trainer, Brian Bruns, and suspended for 6 months his standing as a "Lead Driver Trainer."
The fourth manager disciplined is Eric Hanson, a Servisair Operations Manager, whose DIA badge was suspended for 14 days. Hanson is also banned from acting as a Lead Driver Trainer at the airport.
Servisair Vice-President Dino Noto declined to discuss the airport's disciplinary moves.
"The company's policy," said Noto, "is to maintain all disciplinary action taken with its employees as confidential. The company is continuing to investigate this matter."
Servisair did appeal the airport's disciplinary action but that appeal was denied Jan. 3. The company still has the right to appeal to Aviation Manager Turner West.
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