Providing a cost-effective solution to getting staff safely back to work
So with the announcement that those that can’t work from home should think about returning to their place of work, this clearly has many major implications for businesses all over the UK. Today thoughts will turn to how this can be done safely to continue to protect the workforce and the public as they return to sites and buildings that have remained closed for several weeks
The 2m rule has provided guidelines as to the reduced transfer of COVID-19 and new policies and operational procedures will need to be rapidly developed by each business to ensure that this is adhered to as buildings and sites begin to be populated once again.
Cameras may hold the key. For retailers Electronic marshalling and people counting is an option to be considered. The systems utilise high quality enhanced #CCTV cameras with built in specific people counting analytics to monitor and count people entering and leaving the premises in a supermarket for example.
The cameras are connected to a high specification Network Video Recorder (NVR) located within a secure lockable room in the premises. The system analyses how many people are inside the premises, when the store has reached maximum capacity the system triggers an output in order to advise customers that they must wait till somebody exits the store, keeping numbers to a pre-agreed limit and enhancing safety in the store for shoppers and its staff.
In areas that have high footfall such as staff entrances Thermal Cameras may provide one option for companies to screen the temperatures of those people arriving back on site. It takes one second for the camera to detect the temperature of a person and will produce instant alerts. The cameras are now being trialled in some airports across the UK where large numbers of people will pass through the camera’s field of view.
Early detection of a high temperature means that the identified member of staff can then undergo further checks to establish other symptoms and the potential presence of the virus or other underlying health problems.
Previously prohibitive to many workplaces due to the cost, as the market and the products have developed, the technology has become more cost effective to install and the cameras can now be incorporated into existing CCTV systems. As an investment for the future the cameras can also combine the latest screening technology and access control providing triggers for door locks and locations with restricted visiting access.
As businesses assess procedures and the logistics of moving staff back onto sites and into buildings safely – #thermalcameras may provide the key to early detection and reassurance amongst teams that everything possible is being done to protect their health and safety.
