Why Temperature Monitoring May Be More Effective Than You Think
COVID-19 has completely changed the paradigm for businesses worldwide. While some organizations have had the luxury of migrating workers to a remote work-from-home situation, many others cannot exist without employees working side-by-side at a worksite. The challenge is protecting both promoting business continuity and reducing the chance of spreading the virus.
To remain in business, companies have implemented solutions that, while not perfect, provide the best possible safety for employees and customers. Best practices like social distancing and wearing masks and gloves have provided meaningful protection that has enabled in-person interactions to occur. While these procedures are an excellent first step, businesses must continue to identify solutions that further limit the chance of virus transmission.
Health Screening Technology
One promising method to prevent contagion is to deploy health screening technology that can identify carriers before they can interact in the workplace and spread the virus. The most promising health screening technologies have proven to be temperature monitoring devices. While temperature tracking isn’t perfect, it’s the best solution currently available for immediate identification of individuals with a high likelihood of virus communicability.
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Temperature taking for COVID is a bit controversial as not all individuals with COVID are symptomatic. While not all cases will demonstrate a fever, the fever is the most common for those that are symptomatic. Google searches for symptoms show this trend well:
With this knowledge in mind, professionals realize that non-invasive techniques that provide additional defense lines can only help. Technologies that can identify some infected individuals and keep employees and customers safe are better than nothing.
One challenge that companies have faced in taking temperatures for COVID has been protecting those that administer the check. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently issued outlines for two options for on-site temperature screening. The first approach relies on barrier/partition controls and personal protective equipment (“PPE”), and the second approach relies exclusively on PPE. Under the first approach, the screener stands behind a physical barrier, such as a window or partition, and checks the employee’s temperature by reaching around the partition while wearing gloves. The second approach calls for screeners to wear a face mask, eye protection, disposable gloves, and a gown if contact is necessary when taking an employee’s temperature.
Temperature Monitoring Devices
While these guidelines are reasonable precautions, technology has made temperature checking safer and more accessible for both the screeners and the employees. For example, trusted technology partners have developed contact-free temperature testing options. Teksetra offers two great options for simple, low-cost, thermal imaging: Seek Scan™ automates body temperature screening using skin temperature as a proxy. With ±0.3°C (±0.5°F) accuracy and the inclusion of a reference heat source, performs well as an infrared temporal thermometer but from a safe social distance.
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Another option is the Bioscan Temperature Kiosk. This kiosk scans visitors and staff for elevated body temperature. If the kiosk detects high body temperature, it notifies the user and sends a real-time alert to management staff to take appropriate action.
Temperature tracking is controversial, largely because some argue it could lead to a false sense of security while not catching all cases. However, this technology can identify some infected individuals, which is more than zero. It’s an imperfect solution to a currently impossible ask.
Contact us today to learn how using a temperature-sensing device is a fast, accurate, and affordable way to help protect customer and employee health.