EMPLOYEE TEMPERATURE SCREENING

Employees of some critical infrastructure locations may need to undergo temperature screening each day for signs of possible COVID-19 infection before being allowed to report to work. Those who need to be screened might include staff, faculty, contractors, residents, or others entering the building/work site. 

Below are some best practices to consider whether you do this in-house or engage a service like ours to do this for you. If you're engaging an outside service, you should expect price range to be $40 - $60/hour and should have reasonable PPE available for them or ensure they provide this themselves. Joffe's rate is $44/hour and PPE is made available to those who don't have any of their own. 

NOTE: At this time, our consulting teams are evaluating this recommendation for individual organizations based on risk, desire, other mitigation steps in place, etc. To that end, while you may self-select to conduct temperature screening regardless of who you are, this page does not necessarily recommend that you do or do not need to screen your employees. No matter what you do, you should be compliant with the Social Distancing expectations laid out by Federal, State and County leaders throughout our nation. 

DIY

Process:

Taking a client’s temperature using a temporal thermometer.

Screening Clients at Entry 

Temporal thermometers use an infrared scanner to measure the temperature of the temporal artery in the forehead. Temperature takers should keep as much distance from clients as they can, wash their hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) regularly, and use gloves if available.

To use thermometer:
  • Turn on the thermometer.
  • The screening process includes quickly having your temperature taken. 
  • Gently sweep the thermometer across the client’s forehead.
  • Remove the thermometer and read the number:
    • Fever: Any temperature 100.4 F or greater is considered a fever.
    • No fever: People with temperatures at or below 100.3 F may continue into the business using normal procedures.
    • You will receive a sticker signifying you are clear for the day.
  • Clean the thermometer with an alcohol wipe (or isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab) between each client. 
Questions Asked:
  • Have you had any of the following Symptoms?:
    • Fatigue
    • Dry Cough
    • Shortness of breath
    • Fever
  • Have you been in contact with anyone in the symptoms mentioned above? 
  • Have you had a fever in the last 24 hours? 
  • Have you taken any fever reducing medications in the last 24 hours?
    • Tylenol 
    • Advil /Ibuprofen 
    • Aleve 
Do Not:
  • Do not drink any hot liquids or smoke prior to your temperature reading 
  • Do not have your heater on in your car or be out in the cold for long periods of time
If you Have a fever:
  • DO NOT return to work until you are fever-free without fever-reducing medication
  • You will not be able to work 
  • You will be sent home 
  • You will report you inability to work to your supervisor 
  • Follow up with your supervisor/manager for policies on returning to work amid COVID-19 guidelines
Who Should Be Screened:
  • Individuals that are in high traffic areas or groups of people
  • Individuals working as or alongside medical personnel
  • Individuals that are involved in frequent travel
  • Individuals 65 and older