Amazon is now using thermal cameras at its warehouses to help screen workers for fevers, Reuters reports. The thermal imaging cameras are faster to use than the standard forehead thermometers Amazon had been using to test workers for fevers, which are a primary symptom of the coronavirus.
Workers said Amazon still asks for a thermometer check on anyone the thermal cameras flag, although that method involves slipping the thermometer through a plexiglas screen. The cameras could nonetheless be safer by reducing the amount of contact between employees, both for screeners and those who’d otherwise have to queue up for checks.
It’s not certain how many warehouses are using the cameras, although Whole Foods is also expected to replace thermometer checks with cameras at its stores.
The move likely won’t completely assuage fears that warehouse staff might infect each other with the virus. It certainly won’t address accusations that Amazon is firing critics of its labor practices, including its COVID-19 safety measures. However, this does suggest the company is aware of the importance of safe, effective screening. Infections would not only cost business, but risk creating serious supply disruptions at a time when many people worldwide are relying heavily on Amazon to deliver essentials.
