Strategies For Returning To A Safe Work Environment With Enhanced Screening

Thermal Imaging Aiding Safer Return To Work Procedures

Many of us are now looking towards the future after initially probably enjoying the break from work. Returning to work is now the focus of many businesses and employees, especially those that haven’t been able to work from home. Getting things moving isn’t as easy as it was to stop everything though and the safety of everyone is more important than ever.

We may have almost come full circle with many office spaces over the years getting away from cubicles and partitions to allow more open space and connectivity with each other, however, partitions to separate workers might become common once again, and could even be constructed from germ-resistant materials.

Touch-free devices to open doors will become more common, experts say, and expect to see far more air purifiers and bottles of hand sanitiser when you return to work. Many businesses are now looking at advanced methods of screening to minimise the impacts of viral spread within many work environments.

Around the world, governments are responding to the unprecedented circumstances related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. In many countries and regions, authorities have placed restrictions on their citizen’s movements and have increased guidance on the basic hygiene required to reduce the spread of the virus. The primary aim of this activity is to reduce the reproduction number (Rₒ) of COVID-19 by limiting contact between groups of people as much as possible.

Similarly, many government and healthcare authorities have provided guidance on the key symptoms associated with the disease. One of the key symptoms is an increased body temperature or fever.

With the advent of viral outbreaks like COVID-19, enhanced measures need to be in place for some businesses to maintain the wellbeing of employees and customers alike.

Across the UK businesses are utilising thermal imaging to maintain and safeguard operations, allowing for greater health security and initial detection before issues occur.

‘Typically, these cameras have been used for industrial inspection, such as checking the temperature in machinery to warn of overheating. The COVID-19 pandemic has enabled a new use for these thermal cameras. Now, thermal body temperature solutions represent a much larger percentage of the thermal camera application demand from integrators and end-users. Furthermore, end-users in commercial office buildings, transportation and government facilities are looking to deploy thermal camera solutions. The market for uncooled thermal cameras was forecast to hit nearly 200,000 units in 2020. These new solutions will likely add tens of thousands of unit shipments…’ www.omdia.com/

Using thermal cameras can be more discrete, efficient, and effective in identifying individuals that need further screening. A variety of organisations including factories, transportation, manufacturing, offices, corporate buildings and first responders use thermal screening as an Elevated Body Temperature detection method and as part of employee health and screening.

Detecting any security threats early is the best way to prevent issues from spiralling and this is no different from viral and health security challenges. Thermal imaging used to detect elevated body temperatures is one measure that can be applied in the early detection of health problems and allows suspected carriers to be assessed for further screening before any potential spread can occur. However, not all thermal detection equipment is equal and careful consideration needs to be made when contemplating thermal imaging for your business.

Thermal imaging is used for temperature screening and detection for many reasons. Often thermal screening is set up at border points such as airports, seaports and in public places, these are busy areas often having many people passing through at a time. If traditional thermometer methods were used on every single person, others would incur major delays. Thermal Imaging cameras can solve this problem as they can be set-up to scan a large number of people at one time.

It is also important to note when using a conventional thermometer, the readings are at a single point, but a thermal image uses 1000’s of temperature readings to build up a 2-dimensional picture of the face of the person. This allows for improved screening and more accurate temperature readings over other methods.

With health threats at the forefront of everyone’s mind, having systems in place to maintain business activity and protect the potential economic/social impacts is vital for many businesses.

Churchill Security are dedicated to maintaining secure environments for businesses whether the threat is from criminal activity or health security.

Call us today and we can help with any information you need on thermal imaging and how we can help implement it for you.

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