What are the Best Practices for Live Scan Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Published on April 8, 2021 at 07:20 am

During this crisis, businesses have learned to adapt to new settings to survive like remote working, using digital tools, and virtual communication with clients. As facilities like restaurants, stores, and other public businesses are opening back up, we’ve witnessed a spike in COVID-19 cases, which increased the number of cases to its highest yet. It is important for businesses to follow the best practices in encouraging a safe work environment for their employees and customers. 

Live Scan providers interact with people daily to take their fingerprints but they have a responsibility to keep their employees and the applicants safe by minimizing the amount of physical contact as much as possible. Here is a guide with the best practices a live scan operator and applicant can follow to stay safe during the pandemic.

What is the safest way to get a live scan done?

Scheduling an appointment by calling the live scan location or by enrolling online is the safest way to guarantee a contactless socially-distant live scan service. Through enrolling online, you can request a live scan service by filling in your transaction information and making a payment online. When finished, you’ll receive a token to show the live scan operator when you visit the location for expedited service. 

Be sure to print out your request for a live scan form and bring it with you to the location with a valid photo ID as well. You won’t need to pay any extra fees at the location, just get your fingerprints taken and you’re done! If a group of individuals like volunteers, students, or employees needs to get live scanned at the same time, you can schedule a mobile live scan service. A mobile live scan operator will go to your workplace or destination with the live scan equipment at an agreed upon date and time and take everyone’s fingerprints on site.

What are the best practices for live scan applicants?

1. Always wear a face mask when you go to a live scan facility and throughout the whole process as well as in any other public places or on transportation.
2. Practice social distancing as best as possible, especially in crowded places, by maintaining a 6-feet distance between other customers, which is about 2 arms’ length.
3. When you go out, be sure to carry with you a hand sanitizer that contains at least 70% alcohol and use it regularly throughout the day. Remember to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds when you get the chance.
4. Limit bringing any personal items and have the appropriate forms and method of payment prepared and in hand. If you’ve scheduled your appointment online then you don’t need to pay at the live scan location.

What are the best practices for live scan providers?

1. Consider setting an “appointment only” policy so you’d be able to control the number of people that come to your live scan location per day. This is a great way to prevent the location from getting crowded or too busy.
2. Place a sign instructing customers to wash or sanitize their hands regularly, you can even provide hand sanitizer to customers on-the-spot as an extra precaution.
3. All employees should be wearing gloves and face masks throughout the live scan process. They should also wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, regularly during the day.
4. Encourage customers to practice social distancing and spacing between customers when in line; some stores have placement stickers on the floor to inform customers where to stand.
5. Routinely sanitize and disinfect any countertops or surfaces at the location like desks, phones, toilets, etc. as well as the live scan system like the laptop, keyboard, and scanner. Check with your DOJ Certified Live Scan Vendor about the appropriate cleaning products and techniques to use to preserve your equipment’s safety.
6. Maintain a proper distance from the customer while obtaining their personal info and while taking their fingerprints and aim for the minimum amount of physical contact.

And finally, stay safe!

If you’re experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms like coughing, a fever, trouble breathing, chest pain, or loss of the taste or smell senses then please do not enter any live scan location or go to other public places. It is advised to get a COVID-19 test and self-quarantine for at least 12 days. Going out won’t only worsen your condition but it’ll also put others surrounding you at a high risk of getting sick. 

When live scan providers and applicants follow these simple procedures, they’re not only protecting themselves but they’re also actively doing their part in bringing this pandemic to an end and creating a safer environment.

Read more about: What are the Safest Ways to Complete Your Live Scan during the Covid-19 Pandemic?

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