How to Implement Temperature Screening in Your Workplace

As more businesses open back up, screening employees for potential COVID-19 symptoms is extremely important to ensure a healthy workplace. Though not required, the CDC recommends temperature screening employees before entering work as an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace. 

The best and most protective methods to screen employees combines social distancing and installing or using a physical barrier. Employers can use the following CDC recommendations to create a safe environment while implementing temperature screening:

• Use social distancing to your advantage. 
  • Require your employees to take their own temperature before coming into work. Once an employee arrives to work, maintain your distance (a minimum of 6 feet) and ask your employee to confirm that they do not have a temperature and have not been experiencing shortness of breath or a cough. The CDC defines an elevated temperature as 100.4^o F (38.0^o C) or higher. Additionally, you should visually inspect your employee to make sure they do not look sick, which could include flushed cheeks or looking tired.
• Use a physical barrier/partition for added protection. 
  • The CDC recommends using a physical barrier, like the Mobile SeparationScreen, while screening employees. “During screening, the screener stands behind a physical barrier, such as a glass or plastic window or partition, that can protect the screener’s face and mucous membranes from respiratory droplets that may be produced when the employee sneezes, coughs, or talks.”

When implementing temperature screening in your workplace, the CDC recommends following the protocol listed below: 

• “Put on disposable gloves.
• Check the employee’s temperature, reaching around the partition or through the window. Make sure the screener’s face stays behind the barrier at all times during the screening.
• If performing a temperature check on multiple individuals, make sure that you use a clean pair of gloves for each employee and that the thermometer has been thoroughly cleaned in between each check.” According to the FDA, using a non-contact thermometer can help reduce the spread of infections. 

Temperature screening in your workplace is a simple and effective way to screen employees for COVID-19. When adhering to the CDC guidelines of maintaining social distancing and using a physical barrier, you are minimizing the chance of spreading germs and keeping your workplace healthy! 

You can also click here to read this entire blog post on DiaMedical USA’s website.