Mitie Security launches screening solutions to protect companies against COVID-19

This fever-screening technology is able to detect human temperatures to within an accuracy of 0.3ºC, in turn raising the alarm for monitoring teams should the technology identify an individual with a fever. These solutions have been designed to support the wide range of industries on the front line of the nation’s fight against the Coronavirus, as well as those looking to prepare for when current restrictions are eased.

Applications for the technology include the following:

Healthcare Identifying potential COVID-19 sufferers as they enter hospital which will allow healthcare professionals to take precautions, such as limiting contact with other patients and ensuring that all staff they encounter are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)

Public spaces Scanning people’s body temperature on entry to public spaces, such as railway stations, airports and large venues. This will allow individuals potentially suffering from COVID-19 to be isolated and reduce the further spread of the virus in crowded places 

Retail Thermal imaging technology will support the safety of staff and customers in supermarkets or other shops in identifying individuals with fevers and potentially diverting them away from the stores

Business headquarters For businesses preparing for the return of large number of employees to their head offices, the fever-screening solutions will detect any employees or visitors who are potentially infected with COVID-19, thereby preventing it from spreading further within the building

Variety of formats

To enable use in different situations, the technology has been developed in several formats, from hand-held units through to mounted cameras. For example, locating the thermal cameras at site entrances allows a larger number of people to be checked at one time, such as in public areas or when a large number of employees are entering a building at the same time (for instance, during shift changes at a manufacturing site, or when employees are arriving for work at a large office block).

The portable hand-held solution can be used to check individuals, enabling the detection of anyone showing an elevated body temperature.

Mitie’s specialist Fire and Security Systems team has also developed a process guide to be used alongside the fever-screening solutions, including Best Practice guidelines and procedures to manage individuals with a high body temperature depending on the scenario. For instance, potential COVID-19 sufferers could be diverted to a safe area for further checks to be performed by an employee wearing appropriate PPE, before determining if access to the site will be granted or denied.

Alongside these guidelines, the fever-screening solutions will allow businesses to protect their employees and customers by minimising the risk of spreading COVID-19 infections.

Jason Towse, managing director of business services at Mitie, commented: “Ensuring the safety of our clients’ employees and customers has always been our priority, and this is even more important during the Coronavirus pandemic. As many businesses start planning a return to work after lockdown, we must ensure that we all play our part in limiting the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible. As a business we're evolving to meet this new threat. By harnessing thermal technology we can support businesses in keeping people safe – be they individuals at the coal face of the pandemic or others looking to find safe ways in which to return to daily life as and when the restrictions begin to ease.”