Pre Entry Screening v2.0 03.23.2020 (004).docx

FEMA

Environmental Safety and Health (ESH) Safety Official Facility Pre-Entry Fever Screening Procedural Guidance March 23, 2020 (v2.0)

Purpose This document provides guidance to assist FEMA locations in the establishment of a Facility Pre-Entry Fever Screening process.

Scope The Facility Pre-Entry Fever Screening is intended to quickly assess if an employee should be allowed access to a FEMA facility. Procedures may vary facility-to-facility based on staffing, building layout and other considerations. The Safety Official is the point of contact for the screening process and must be engaged in the development and implementation of the facility specific process.

Establishing a Prescreening Process

· Develop specific screening procedures in compliance with this Facility Pre-Entry Screening Procedural Guidance.

· Establish messaging to notify affected staff of the screening procedures and distribute the message.

· Obtain temperature measuring devices and supplies

· Only non-contact, non-invasive methods are permitted to be used for temperature measurement; ear, oral, and industrial type laser thermometers are prohibited to be used for these procedures. Only no-touch infrared thermometers (aka thermal scanners) manufactured for the purpose of taking human forehead body temperature readings are permitted to be used.

· Alcohol sanitizing wipes must be available to disinfect the thermometer before first use, after accidental contact, and after taking the last measurement for the day.

· Hand sanitizer must be available in the scanning area.

· Gloves must be available for use by the screeners on a voluntary basis.

· Ample replacement batteries of the appropriate size must be available in the screening location; repeated screening quickly drains the batteries and they may need to be replaced daily or more frequently.

· An indicator method such as colored wrist bands, colored stickers, dated stickers, or another method to communicate “screening was passed” must be established and made available for once a day screening. The indicator method would need to change daily, for example rotating sticker color or use of dates.

· Identify and Set-up A Screening location

· Identify a screening location through which employees, contractors and visitors will pass prior to the entering the facility. A single, centralized location is recommended instead of establishing separate screening locations at each entrance.

· Determine the number of “screening lanes” needed to effectively and efficiently screen the number of individuals working at the location.

· Establish the screening lanes to maintain social distancing 7 feet apart between lanes and individuals waiting to be screened. Floor markings using tape is the recommended method.

· Establish and post directional signage to the screening area. Social distancing reminders and basic screening procedures should also be posted in the screening area.

· NOTE: Screening may be conducted prior to every entry at each entry point but it is labor and resource intensive and not recommended. If this method is chosen, an identification method (i.e. stickers) is not necessary.

· Identify and prepare individuals who will perform the screening process

· Determine and recruit an adequate number of individuals to screen based on the number of screening locations and screening lanes previously identified. FEMA employees are permitted to perform this process.

· Individuals performing the screening must be familiar with the specifics of the established screening procedures, PPE availability/use and the manufacturer’s instructions provided with the thermometer(s) to be use.

Procedures and Considerations for Screening

· The thermometer may only be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

· Scanned individuals’ names, scanning results, and other information is not permitted to be documented as it is unnecessary and considered private medical information aka Sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (SPII).

· The operator of the thermal scanner is permitted to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) on a voluntary basis as directed by the ESH job hazard analysis to include disposable nitrile gloves.

· The following screening procedures are mandatory and may not be altered:

STEP 1: Screening Permission

· The screener must first ask permission from the individual to be screened. Verbatim - “Do I have your permission to scan your forehead to take your temperature?”

· If the employee agrees with a “Yes” or similar, proceed to Step 2.

· If the employee refuses, entry is not permitted, and the employee is to notify their supervisor for telework or alternate work location guidance.

STEP 2: Scan the Employee’s Forehead

· Scan the individual’s forehead per the thermometer manufacturer’s instructions.

STEP 3: Decision

· If the employee’s temperature is 100.399° Fahrenheit or less, the employee will be given verification that their temperature is acceptable (e.g., a sticker) for the day and released from the screening area to enter the facility.

· If the employee’s temperature reads 100.4° Fahrenheit or higher, entry is not permitted, and the employee is to notify their supervisor for telework or alternate work location guidance.

· Thermal scanners often need to have an initial adjustment period before it is put into use. This is typically 15 minutes before the first scan is to take place. Refer to and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

· The lack of contact means the disinfection process between employees for the thermometers is minimal or unnecessary, allowing for easier and faster use when screening large numbers of people.

· The front of the thermal scanner must not touch the employee or any other surface. If this occurs, the glass front must be cleaned with an alcohol-based wipe.

· Non-contact infrared thermometers are typically held two to three inches away from the forehead or temple. Refer to and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

· Many thermometers require a ~5 second break between the scans to recalibrate itself between uses. Refer to and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

· If thermometer read LO, this means temperature cannot the read. A few tips are to have the individual pull hair away from temples, remove glasses or hat, if they walked a distance to the Screening staging area have them wait 2-3 minutes before you take temperature again.

· Batteries may need to be replaced every day depending on usage.

Version 2.0 March 23, 2020