Sanitizer dispensers with compliance verification
View Patent ↗A system is provided for providing compliance verification of sanitizer use from a sanitizer dispenser. The system provides for identifying individual users of one or more sanitizer dispensers through technologies such as RFID. Individual's use of sanitizer dispensers is monitored to determine compliance with sanitizer use requirements. A compliance report may be generated based on data associated with one or more individuals' use of the sanitizer dispenser(s). Additionally, the sanitizer dispenser may identify containers having authorized sanitizer.
1. A system for monitoring sanitizer use, the system comprising:
at least a first sanitizer dispenser operable to dispense sanitizer to a user's hand;
an identification apparatus operatively associated with the first sanitizer dispenser, the identification apparatus being operable to automatically identify at least one of (a) the user, and (b) a first sanitizer container engaged with the first sanitizer dispenser;
a sanitizer dispenser operations monitor operatively associated with the first sanitizer dispenser, the sanitizer dispenser monitor comprising:
a consumables-authentication module in communication with the identification apparatus, the consumables-authentication module operable to obtain an identifier associated with the first sanitizer dispenser and verify that the obtained identifier matches a selected identifier associated with at least one of a sanitizer type, a sanitizer composition, a sanitizer volume, a sanitizer container shape, a sanitizer container size, and a sanitizer concentration.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a compliance module in communication with the identification apparatus, the compliance module being operable to record data associated with use of the first sanitizer dispenser by the user, and wherein the identification apparatus is operable to automatically identify the user, and wherein the sanitizer dispenser operations monitor comprises the compliance module in communication with the identification apparatus.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising an administration computer in communication with the sanitizer dispenser operations monitor of the first sanitizer dispenser, the administration computer being operable to generate a compliance report based on at least a portion of the data associated with use of the first sanitizer dispenser.
4. The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the administration computer is in communication with a plurality of sanitizer dispenser operations monitors of a corresponding plurality of sanitizer dispensers, the plurality of sanitizer dispensers including the first sanitizer dispenser, wherein the compliance report is based on data recorded by the plurality of sanitizer dispenser operations monitors.
5. The system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, for each use of the first sanitizer dispenser, the data associated with the use of the first sanitizer dispenser includes an employee name, a time of sanitizer dispenser use, and a date of sanitizer dispenser use.
6. The system as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a boolean value indicative of user compliance with a sanitizer-use requirement.
7. The system as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a sensor disposed on the first sanitizer dispenser operable to determine if the user's hand is in a position to receive the sanitizer from the first sanitizer dispenser.
8. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the compliance module is in communication with the sensor.
9. The system as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a sensor disposed on the sanitizer dispenser operable to assess if sanitizer is dispensed from the first sanitizer dispenser.
10. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the compliance module is in communication with the sensor.
11. The system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the compliance module is configured, based on a user identifier, to direct the first sanitizer dispenser to administer at least one of:
(a) a predetermined sanitizer; and
(b) a sanitizer amount.
12. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the identification apparatus is operable to automatically identify the first sanitizer container engaged with the first sanitizer dispenser, and wherein the sanitizer dispenser operations monitor comprises the consumables-authentication module in communication with the identification apparatus.
13. The system as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising an administration computer, wherein the administration computer is notified by the sanitizer dispenser operations monitor if the consumables-authentication module identifies at least one of (a) a second sanitizer container, and (b) an unauthorized sanitizer container.
14. The system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the identification apparatus is further operable to automatically identify the first sanitizer container engaged with the first sanitizer dispenser, and wherein the sanitizer dispenser operations monitor further comprises the consumables-authentication module in communication with the identification apparatus.
15. The system as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising an administration computer in communication with the sanitizer dispenser operations monitor of at least the first sanitizer dispenser, the administration computer being operable to generate a compliance report based on at least a portion of the data associated with use of the first sanitizer dispenser, and wherein the administration computer is notified by the sanitizer dispenser operations monitor if the consumables-authentication module identifies at least one of (a) a second sanitizer container, and (b) an unauthorized sanitizer container.
16. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the administration computer is in communication with a plurality of sanitizer dispenser operations monitors of a corresponding plurality of sanitizer dispensers, the plurality of sanitizer dispensers including the first sanitizer dispenser, wherein the compliance report is based on data recorded by the plurality of sanitizer dispenser operations monitors.
17. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the identification apparatus comprises an RFID reader.
18. A method of monitoring sanitizer use, the method comprising:
automatically obtaining, in conjunction with a first sanitizer dispenser, an identifier associated with a first sanitizer container engaged with the first sanitizer dispenser; and
verifying by a computer that the obtained identifier matches a predetermined identifier associated with at least one of a sanitizer type, a sanitizer composition, a sanitizer volume, a sanitizer container shape, a sanitizer container size, and a sanitizer concentration.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the user of the first sanitizer dispenser is automatically identified, and wherein the computer records the identity of the user.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19 , further comprising monitoring by the computer the use of the first sanitizer dispenser by the user.
21. The method as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising preparing a compliance report listing the identity of the user of the first sanitizer dispenser.
22. The method as claimed in claim 19 , further comprising determining at least one of a sanitizer type, sanitizer volume, and sanitizer concentration for the user.
23. The method as claimed in claim 19 , further comprising compiling a compliance report using data from a plurality of sanitizer dispensers, including the first sanitizer dispenser.
24. The method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the first container engaged with the first sanitizer dispenser is automatically identified, and wherein the computer records the identity of the first sanitizer container.
25. The method as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising determining whether the first sanitizer container is approved.
26. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the first container engaged with the first sanitizer dispenser is automatically identified, and wherein the computer records the identity of the first sanitizer container.
27. The method as claimed in claim 26 , further comprising monitoring by the computer the use of the first sanitizer dispenser by the user.
28. The method as claimed in claim 27 , further comprising preparing a compliance report listing the identity of the user of the first sanitizer dispenser.
29. The method as claimed in claim 28 , further comprising determining whether the first sanitizer container is approved.
30. A system for monitoring sanitizer use, the system comprising:
means for containing a sanitizer;
means for dispensing the sanitizer to at least one hand of a user;
means for automatically obtaining, in conjunction with the means for dispensing the sanitizer, an identifier associated with the means for containing the sanitizer and corresponding to at least one of a sanitizer type, a sanitizer composition, a sanitizer volume, a sanitizer container shape, a sanitizer container size, and a sanitizer concentration; and
means for verifying that the obtained identifier matches a predetermined identifier;
wherein the means for verifying is in communication with the means for automatically
obtaining.
31. The system as claimed in claim 30 , further comprising means for generating a report using data provided by the means for automatically obtaining and the means for verifying.
32. The system as claimed in claim 30 , further comprising a means for indicating whether sanitizer was dispensed.
33. The system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the means for automatically obtaining further comprises at least one of (a) being operatively associated with means for dispensing, and (b) being located proximate to the means for dispensing.
34. The system as claimed in claim 30 , further comprising means for verifying that the sanitizer is an approved type.
35. The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a consumables replacement module operable to determine that the first sanitizer container associated with the first sanitizer dispense requires replacement in response to passage of a selected amount of sanitizer dispensed.
36. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the consumables replacement module determines that the first sanitizer container requires replacement, the system is rendered inoperable until the first sanitizer container is replaced.
37. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the obtained identifier is unique to the first sanitizer dispenser.