HID Global has added to its HID Location Services IoT ecosystem, seeking to help against workplace exposure to COVID-19.
A new HID Location Services for Workplace Safety physical distancing application uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) HID BEEKS Aware fobs. They alert employees when they are closer than six feet (2m) for a specified time. The new contact tracing application uses the same HID BEEKS Aware fob or a BEEKS badge/badge holder that can be added to ID cards, as a digital trail of an employee’s whereabouts and interactions while at work. This makes it possible to respond to cases, and activate isolation procedures as needed.
The physical distancing application is being piloted and adopted by hospitals and enterprises, including at HID’s own North American headquarters and factory in Austin, Texas.
Mark Robinton, Vice President of IoT Services, Identification Technologies with HID Global, said: “Digitally managing social distancing is critical to encouraging the necessary behavioural shifts that will create a safer and more secure environment to which employees feel comfortable returning to work. Our goal with HID Location Services for Workplace Safety is to use our established IoT ecosystem to help organisations restore productivity with confidence by making it easier for everyone to adjust to workplace physical distancing and taking the manual leg-work out of contact tracing.”
How it works
Employers define distancing policies and alert parameters; zones can be created with geo-fences around high-traffic areas (such as in break rooms, hallways, lobbies) to minimise gatherings of people. HID BEEKS Aware BLE fobs are issued to employees, visitors and contractors to carry while at work. Using peer-to-peer capabilities, the fob will flash and sound a brief audible alert when employees are within six feet (2m) for more than two minutes (or as configured by administrator).
With a click of a button, detailed reporting enables contact tracing using historical data on movement and interactions in order to trigger safety protocols. For standalone contact tracing, employers can couple the functionality with employee ID badges.
A user has access to real-time analytics that include location data such as interaction type and contact duration (including start and end times). The product uses enterprise networks or Bluetooth over Wi-Fi network and cloud services; no other hardware or network wiring needed.
HID Location Services is already in use by Fortune 500 companies for managing building occupancy, and office and facility space; asset tracking and monitoring the health of equipment. Visit https://www.hidglobal.com/.
