As businesses across South Africa start returning to work, the safety of employees and customers is of paramount importance. This means that employers will have to make extra changes to their regular operations in order to open and stay safe.
Technology can play a critical role in helping businesses implement these back-to-work protocols through the use of IoT (Internet of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence) and analytics. With this in mind, Vodacom has unveiled three digital solutions to support businesses as they navigate their return to work post-lockdown.
1. Thermal Cameras
One of the primary symptoms consistent with COVID-19 is elevated body temperature. The use of thermal imaging cameras previously applied in the manufacturing industries can be applied to detect persons with raised body temperatures if required by an organisation’s screening process. The Vodacom Business Thermal Scanner can be used to monitor employees or customers’ body temperature from a safe distance as they enter a specific area or building.
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AI and analytics will then measure the employee or customer’s temperature and in the event it is elevated, generate a notification for further screening protocols in accordance with their specific Health Safety & Environment (HSE) guidelines. The technology provides thermal measurements which are non-invasive for those being monitored and produce objective, instant results to guide HSE personnel.
2. Social Distancing Monitoring Technology
Using an existing camera feed or a Vodacom-supplied camera, social distancing monitoring technology provides a platform to monitor people within an area and report back on distances between them.
Using AI capabilities, the technology assists in monitoring the social distancing guideline set out by Government while it also counts the number of people who enter or leave an area. The monitoring and tracking of the distance between people is critical to ensure that businesses remain compliant to the regulatory and governance policies put in place.
3. PPE Monitoring
PPE Monitoring utilises existing camera feeds and through Visual Analytics can effectively identify individuals that are not using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), more specifically – face masks. This can be integrated into workflows or any external orchestration layer and gives businesses the ability to effectively identify and respond to their Health Safety & Environment (HSE) protocols.
“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. We want to support businesses by providing the tools necessary to not only improve health and safety but also to comply with guidelines and regulations that have been set by the Presidency,” says Peter Malebye, Managing Executive for IoT at Vodacom Business.
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