Many UK firms are considering their options when it comes to being able to ‘detect, divert, and isolate’ sick employees, including the use of temperature detecting CCTV systems, reports the Daily Mail.
The CCTV cameras would scan employees as they arrive at their workplaces, flagging any that appear to be suffering a high temperature or fever, to keep offices open and reduce the chances of passing on the coronavirus to colleagues.
According to MailOnline, companies are interested in exploring the options provided by virus-screening CCTV systems, which have a cost of around £3,000 to £5,000 for the camera, processing system, monitors, and camera mounts.
The situation will be a nightmare for building managers, as just one person could potentially infect hundreds of other, forcing buildings to close for weeks. It’s expected that firms are going to have to spend big on the issue, or face losses from office closures.
The CCTV systems would be generally installed in a workplace’s reception or entrance area, where they will scan two so-called ‘regions of interest’, and can take the temperature of two people at once, which would be recorded and relayed to a centralised computer system to be monitored by trained personnel.
Security personnel would be trained to use Smart Coronavirus CCTV to detect, divert and isolate those people they fear may be carrying the virus. At this point, security guards could then use secondary tests to determine whether the suspect is actually infected and should be treated accordingly.
Firms are already conducting trials to find the best threshold temperature for the CCTV systems to differentiate between unaffected and potentially feverish employees. In China, police on patrol are already using similar helmet-mounted cameras, which highlight individuals with body temperatures above 99.14°F (37.3°C).
The system does, however, have some drawbacks. As each camera would only be able to scan two people at a time, it would require that people form a queue to enter the building, similar to airport security.
It’s thought that automating the detection process to keep those with signs of the virus is the best form of defence to protect against large offices being shut down completely. It’s expected that this technology will be soon used in large banks and financial institutions in the City.
Meanwhile, the Scottish government has issued guidance to avoid contracting COVID-19 in the workplace:
- Routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched objects and surfaces such as telephones, keyboards, door handles, desks and tables.
- Basic hand washing highlighted as the most effective way of preventing the spread of infection.
- Hand hygiene promoted by ensuring staff, contractors, service users and visitors have access to handwashing facilities and alcohol-based hand rub, where available.
- Crockery and cutlery in shared kitchen areas should be cleaned with warm water and detergent and dried thoroughly.
- Ensuring food such as crisps and sandwiches should not be left open for communal sharing unless individually wrapped.
If you need serviced offices in Liverpool, then get in touch today.