Fever Cameras – Thermal Screening As Part Of A Safe Return To Work

May 5, 2020 | CCTV, Commercial Security

Are you responsible for a public sector building or commercial site? Then you may have heard about fever cameras. And… how they could make the return to work much easier as the Covid-19 lockdown winds down.

Of course, safety concerns are paramount. Following government advice is critical…

But the military technology used with fever cameras can play a vital role in building confidence. And critically, helping returning staff feel safe.

Fever Cameras could help lots of businesses safely transition out of lockdown

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Thermal cameras use the technology previously reserved for the military and manufacturing. They have excellent security applications for business. But may also help companies ease out of lockdown. Businesses like the following could use them:

  • Restaurants
  • Shops
  • Factories
  • Call centres
  • Construction sites
  • Warehouses
  • Railway stations
  • Airports
  • Offices
  • Schools
  • Police stations
  • Fire stations
  • Gyms

All businesses are having to find ways to continue to operate. AND still ensure the safety of staff and customers.

The big problem is that Coronavirus sufferers can often feel fine. But they may still be carrying the infection. An employee can go to work and infect co-workers or customers.

Members of the public can visit local suppliers. And infect anyone they came into contact with.

Without even realising.

If only we could identify people who have the virus before they entered any site? And isolate them. Without actually touching them.

That’s when someone realised that one of the symptoms of the illness can sometimes be a fever. And fever cameras detect people high temperatures!

Tada… fever cameras to the rescue…

Speak to an expert about fever cameras for your premises

Cue thermal screening cameras… and a return to work

Great… but there’s a caveat.

Thermal cameras CANNOT DIAGNOSE Covid-19 or any other illness. They can’t even give you an accurate diagnosis of a fever. But…

They will notify you if someone has a body surface temperature above 38C. So…

These cameras CAN help you and your business to reduce and mitigate risk.

And as we all start to returning to work. These cameras help staff to feel safe. That’s a fabulous way to boost morale in scary times.

If you know an employee has a raised temperature, you can decide whether that person should be at work. And you can send them home before they come into contact with other staff. But, please, do remember to speak to HR first!

Speak to an expert about fever cameras for your premises

How do Fever Screening Thermographic Cameras Work?

Okay, here’s the science bit…

Objects with a temperature above zero give off a small amount of infrared radiation. A thermal camera uses advanced detectors to convert this into grayscale values. An algorithm then matches the grayscale value to a temperature. It’s accurate to within +/-0.3 degrees Centigrade!

In layman’s terms: thermal cameras detect even the slightest change in temperature. So it’s easy to pick out people with a fever…

It takes one second to detect a high body temperature. This triggers an instant audible and visual alarm. It can do this for many people from about one metre away. So without actually having to touch them. These cameras will help you maintain social distancing!

Indoors or outdoors?

Some cameras can screen a crowd to locate anyone suspected of a raised temperature. This type of equipment only works indoors. Why? Because the infrared signal needs to be close to the human body for accuracy. If an alarm goes off, the person has to be manually identified. Then planned protocols for fever diagnosis can be set in motion.

However, some equipment is powerful enough to work accurately outside. These tend to be simple body temperature monitoring devices. Again, this requires a manual identification after an alarm has gone off.

However, cameras with temperature screening can link up with your access control system. And prevent anyone with a high temperature from entering. Speak to an expert to see which option would work best at your premises.

Speak to an expert about fever cameras for your premises

Set up your fever cameras

A screening channel can be set up in an outdoor space outside the building/site. Personnel can queue with the correct social distancing before passing through the channel. Or a handheld camera on a tripod can use built-in WiFi to connect to a PC or smartphone wirelessly. Personnel pass within 2m. A built in speaker will give off an audible alarm.

Other portable options have an increased range of 9m. And include AI face detection to decrease false alarms by other heat sources. Fixed packages are also available.

Fever cameras could:

  • Protect your key employees from infection
  • Alert staff that they may be infectious before they are aware of symptoms
  • Reduce the spread of infection for members of the public/your customers
  • Reduce the number of sick days across your workforce

Remember, just because someone registers a temperature does not mean they have Coronavirus. And some sufferers of Coronavirus have not had a temperature.

But having this equipment can help you screen your staff. This allows you and your HR team to make an informed decision if required. As iI said, always talk to an HR provider first!

Speak to an expert about fever cameras for your premises

Compliance – Who should install your thermal cameras?

There are rules governing the use of this brand new technology. But some security installers don’t know this.

So how will you decide on the best security company to supply and set up your new cameras? Will your installation follow the strictest Health & Safety Guidelines?

An installer you can trust…

It’s time to meet the local installer with ALL the training and accreditations. Not only standard SSAIB and NSI Gold but ISO qualifications too.

  • ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems)
  • ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety)
  • ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems)

Why is accreditation important?

Because you want someone who knows what they are doing. Who knows how the equipment works. And how best to apply it to the needs of your business.

Speak to an expert about fever cameras for your premises

Don’t forget the security…

Thermal imaging cameras step in when regular visible light cameras are ineffective… in low-light conditions.

These cameras penetrate pitch darkness, dense foliage and dense fog. Intruders hiding in the shadows become visible. And amazingly, with the correct optics, they can pick out human figures from 30km!

In addition to picking out people with a fever, these cameras have several advantages:

  • You need fewer cameras to cover the same area
  • They operate in darkness without infrared illuminators
  • Work well in all weather conditions.
  • Low energy consumption
  • Make it extremely difficult for intruders to escape detection

This thermal technology should be part of your long term security strategy. It offers so much more than fever detection as the lockdown unwinds. There are a range of options available to suit your budget.

Speak to an expert about fever cameras for your premises

Round up of fever cameras

Thermal cameras can be integrated in your existing CCTV system. And even integrated with your Access Control to prevent entry. Usually thermal sensors are integrated with visible light cameras. This allows the operator to cross reference the thermal image and the CCTV image and easily identify the person with the fever.

This blog post is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. Speak to a professional for specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.

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