What’s It Like to Be a Temperature Screener? Two People Share their Experiences
OKLAHOMA CITY - July 29, 2020
What's It Like to Be a Temperature Screener? Two People Share their Experiences.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we interact, how we conduct business, and the jobs that are in demand. One new in-demand job that was borne out this pandemic is a temperature screener. Temperature screeners help support a businesses' safety protocols by taking the temperatures of employees and guests who enter the workplace. In this role, temperature screeners are expected to have good customer service skills and assess an individual's risk of exposing others to an illness, such as COVID-19.
But what is it really like to be a temperature screener? To find out, we interviewed two temperature screeners to better understand their role, the challenges they face, and which skills help them be successful in their job.
Preforming Her Civic Duty to Flatten the Curve
Anna from Edmonton, AB, had the opportunity to be a temperature screener in her community for nearly four months. Through Express Employment Professionals, Anna was placed at a retirement home as a temperature screener, but her official title was concierge. Her main job duties included greeting visitors, taking temperatures using a non-contact thermometer, ensuring visitors fill out the health intake form, providing personal protective equipment such as masks and hand sanitizer, and sanitizing incoming mail and other delivered packages. Other job duties included sanitizing doors and railings.
As a full-time employee, Anna was screened twice a day. Any employee or visitor who left the building had to be rescreened upon reentering. One of the challenges she faced was maintaining order when there was an influx of people entering the building.
"Only two people were allowed to enter the building at a time due to the distance between the screening station and the front doors," said Anna. "I had to reassure those standing in line that I would assist them as quickly as possible. Fortunately, everyone was usually very nice and patient. It helped ease tensions when I would crack a joke."
When Anna's friends asked her what she did at her job, she replied, "I'm flattening the curve!" As a temperature screener, Anna felt like she was doing her civic duty to do what she could to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Plexiglass, Goggles, and Masks…Oh My!
Quin from Springfield, IL, was recently hired on as a full-time temperature screener for a local medical clinic. The clinic called this position triage. Quin was the first to be hired for this new role as a sort of trial to determine if the clinic saw value in hiring more triage personnel.
One benefit Quin observed for employing a dedicated temperature screener triage staff member was that nurses were no longer pulled away from their main job duties to screen guests as they arrived.
Quin's main job duties are greeting patients, providing face masks and hand sanitizer, and taking temperatures of patients and guests as they arrived. After taking the guest's temperature, he would then ask a few questions to determine whether they had any symptoms or had been around anyone with symptoms related to COVID-19. "Context was very important when determining whether or not symptoms were related to COVID-19," said Quin. "If their symptoms were out of the ordinary, the patient would be seated in a special area of the clinic and treated there so not to expose the rest of the facility."
Quin really enjoys his job, especially meeting new people. "I like the people I work with and getting to know new people, and it's fun when I see people I recognize," said Quin. "There's really not that much stress." When not triaging patients, he sanitizes the lobby chairs and his workspace.
To prepare for his role, Quin's employer provided him a printout of procedures with the order to perform them and a list of questions to ask each patient as they arrived. To mitigate exposure to any viruses, Quin sits behind a plexiglass barrier, wears a medical mask, goggles, and disposable scrubs at all times, and is provided medical gloves to use when needed.
When asked what advice he would give to someone to be successful in this role he replied, "Know that while it may be a lot in the moment, it's really not that difficult. Memorize the questions and make sure everyone is screened."
Apply to become a temperature screener in your community!
Below is a typical job posting for a temperature screener when applying through Express Employment Professionals. Details may vary by office or job location.
Optional job titles:
- Temperature Screener
- Facility Screener
- Re-entry Screener
- Temperature Checker
Typical responsibilities:
- Take and record temperature of individuals entering the building using provided thermometer
- Assess an individual's risk
- Self-screen before coming to work
- Wear provided PPE while at work
- Follow processes outlined by client company
What employers look for:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Excellent organizational and communication skills
- Customer service experience
- Attention to detail
- Excellent documentation skills
- Experience in compliance-oriented environment
If you, or someone you know are interested in becoming a temperature screener, visit
ExpressPros.com
or download the
ExpressJobs app.
One of Express' top priorities is supporting a healthy work environment and being easy to do business with.
Join the temperature screener workforce and create your own story as an essential frontline worker in your community!