Security Solutions For An Essential Service
As one of the leading suppliers of Covid-19 testing kits worldwide, Themo Fisher Scientific plays a pivotal role in the ongoing global battle against Coronavirus. From the very start of the pandemic, it was imperative that their UK production facilities were made Covid-secure to enable staff to come to work and essential operations to continue.
Initially they approached Securitas to ask about deploying Security Officers with handheld thermometers to take the temperature of staff on arrival.
The Story in Brief:
- Leading suppliers of Covid-19 testing kits, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s sites had to be Covid-secure to ensure ongoing operation. Essential to this was the ability to check employees’ temperature before they entered the site
- The client was exploring use of handheld thermometers, but following a needs-based assessment Securitas recommended non-invasive, highly accurate thermal imaging cameras instead
- The system was installed at the first site within a week, followed by rapid roll-out at five other locations
- More accurate and ultimately cheaper than the manpower needed for handheld thermometers, this cost-effective solution delivers both reassurance and long-term ROI.
Swift Response
Following a swiftly conducted remote assessment of the access points on-site and numbers of staff, we advised them that a technology-based solution offered many benefits over a manual approach.
“Our recommendation was the installation of thermal imaging cameras for non-invasive body temperature checking,” explains Stella Stobie of Securitas, “Each camera can test many individuals in a short timeframe. They operate with no manual intervention, don’t store any personal data, and are low maintenance. It’s a safe and accurate solution that minimises inconvenience to employees.”
“Through our discussions with Securitas we saw there was a long term cost benefit to using the cameras,” confirms Bob Knott, EMEA Environmental Health & Safety Manager for Thermo Fisher Scientific, adding “We also recognised the health and safety benefit – without the need for another person at the checkpoint, the risk of exposing anyone else to infection is eliminated”.
Rapid Installation of Thermal Imaging Systems
With demand for Covid-19 test kits surging and the virus spreading, quick implementation was essential. Securitas moved fast to arrange installation of the first camera at Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Basingstoke site within a week of receiving the go-ahead. “Staff fully embraced the system,” Bob notes, adding, “it worked really effectively from Day one.”
Implementation of the same solution at their five other UK sites followed swiftly. A few months later, the business undertook a major expansion of the Perth site. “We were concerned about the Covid risk associated with this expansion, but the cameras had already proven themselves to be instrumental in protecting our sites, so once again we worked with Stella,” says Bob.
“She introduced us to the latest innovation, a pedestal-based smart solution that was so cost effective we were able to introduce multiple, segregated testing sites around the building.”
Technology That Delivers Long-term ROI
We arranged for Thermo Fisher Scientific to buy the cameras on a hire purchase basis, meaning that after a year they will own the systems outright. This will ensure a return on their investment for a long time to come – an important consideration in these uncertain times. “Keeping our premises Covid-secure is a marathon and not a sprint,” remarks Bob “and this solution is both cost effective and practical for the long-term.”
“Staff fully embraced the system – it worked really effectively from Day one.” Bob Knott, EMEA Environmental Health & Safety Manager for Thermo Fisher Scientific.
