Using RFID Technology for Contact Tracing and Safety
As businesses begin transitioning back to in-person operations, they are working to safely streamline operations and minimize contact. Fortunately, there are options that can help workplaces and schools comply with government requirements and prevent the spread of COVID-19. RFID technology can help with this.
The Evolution of Contactless Cards
Originally used in World War II, radio frequency identification (RFID) is now employed within contactless smart cards. Instead of being swiped or inserted into a card reader, RFID cards and badges can be waved in front of a device to confirm identification and provide access.
These cards allow businesses to track the comings and goings of employees and ensure that only authorized staff are admitted to protected areas. Closely monitoring the movement of professionals and students can mean the difference between a managed COVID-19 exposure and an outbreak. Because of this, RFID technology plays a more important role than ever.
Increasing Health and Safety Compliance With RFID
Not only do RFID cards help to increase security and streamline entry, they can also be used to reinforce health and safety protocols. While we still don’t know all the ways that COVID-19 can be transferred from person to person, we do know that it can live on metal and plastic surfaces. High-traffic buildings, such as hospitals and schools, are at an increased risk of surface transfer due to the sheer number of hands interacting with doors and other surfaces every day.
RFID cards allow staff and students to get where they need to go without physically interacting with keypads. Contactless cards are made to be registered from a close distance, meaning the person can enter or exit a room via a completely touchless method. A reduced need for employees to physically touch doors, handles, buttons and other surfaces also means a greatly reduced chance of transferring viruses and bacteria.
RFID Badges and Contact Tracing
Contact tracing — the procedure to mitigate viral outbreaks by tracking when and where a contagious person may have interacted with others — is effective but labor intensive. RFID cards are excellent for contact tracing because they can automatically record the entrances, exits and whereabouts of people within a facility or school. This “map” of data can then be used to determine who may have been exposed to the coronavirus so they can be contacted and tested.
By using contactless cards for automated contact tracing, healthcare facilities, businesses and schools can increase safety and reduce the chance of a major COVID-19 outbreak. It can also minimize the likelihood that a business will have to close its doors because of a lack of compliance.
Protecting Staff, Students and Customers
Provide peace of mind and strong safety processes by introducing RFID badges to your place of business. ID Shop carries RFID card printers, which are an efficient way to produce as many badges as you need without waiting for outsourced orders. It also offers a wide variety of safety products to help reinforce your company’s COVID-19 health strategies.
