Tyson Foods Q&A: Why We’re Using Walk-Through Temperature Scanners
April 13 2020 - 5:19PM
We’re working hard to protect team members during this challenging
and ever-changing situation, while continuing to fulfill our
critical role of helping feed people across the country. Our
growing list of protective measures are all essential in doing as
much as we can to keep COVID-19 out of the workplace.
We’ve purchased more than 150 infrared walk-through temperature
scanners. So far, we have the scanners installed in four
facilities; pork plants in Iowa and Indiana and poultry plants in
Arkansas and Georgia. We expect that eventually every one of our
food production facilities will have at least one in place. Hear
from our Senior Vice President of Health & Safety, Tom Brower,
as he explains why we’re installing the scanners.
Why are we using this technology?
We need to ensure a safe work environment for our people.
Exploring ways that are more efficient in keeping our team members
safe is never a bad thing. This is a non-contact temperature
scanner, so it’s seamless for our team members since all they need
to do is walk through the detector zone. It doesn’t disrupt their
routine, and it’s faster than using the handheld thermometers.
How do these walk-through scanners work?
All that team members have to do is walk through the detector
zone one at a time. The non-contact thermal imaging system tracks
them as a screen provides a real-time display of the maximum
temperature reading of each person. If a team member’s temperature
exceeds a fever-grade temperature, the system sets an alarm. One of
our trained professionals will take additional steps and check that
team members temperature with a temporal thermometer to verify
their temperature. If a team member is sick, we’ll send them
home.
Do infrared scanners detect COVID-19?
No. The makers of these devices have noted that the scanners
only detect a person’s body temperature. We still choose to use
them because it’s a safer non-contact option to check temperature.
Just because it can detect a fever, doesn’t mean it can identify
someone who potentially has COVID-19. We know that the virus can be
in people who are asymptomatic. That’s why we’ve implemented other
protective measures since January.
What other protective measures have we
implemented?
We formed an internal COVID-19 task force in January and began
isolating team members who could be at-risk by virtue of their
travel. By the end of February, we had limited business travel,
educated our team members about COVID-19 through digital signage,
videos and other communications. We also encouraged sick team
members to stay home by relaxing attendance policies, increased
sanitation/disinfection efforts and implemented restrictions on
visitors to our facilities. We’re also using temporal thermometers
to take the temperature of every team member at every facility
before they enter the workplace.
Have thermal imaging systems been recommended by federal
agencies?
According to CNBC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
hasn’t approved infrared body temperature scanners to detect
coronavirus fevers. The organization is exploring new guidance
because of the COVID-19 outbreak. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t
use it. It means we should also be utilizing other protective
measures and practicing social distancing.
Will we keep these walk-through temperature scanners for
the long-term?
Since we’ve invested in the equipment, we may consider
continuing to use them. This could help in the future flu and cold
seasons to identify team members that are just starting to show
symptoms and have them go home.
Contact: HLI YANG, 479-290-2122 or
Hli.Yang@tyson.com
Category: IR, Newsroom
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