Ingress/egress system for hygiene compliance
View Patent ↗A system and method for ensuring compliance with a hygiene requirement are provided. The system includes a automated cleaning station operatively associated with a locking mechanism. The automated cleaning station provides means for a user to wash one or more appendage and means for verifying that a full washing cycling was completed. The locking mechanism may be unlocked in response to complete verified washing cycle. The locking mechanism may provide access to, for example, a work area, a work station and/or a work item.
1. An apparatus for washing at least one appendage of a user, comprising:
a wash chamber associated with an automated cleaning station controlled by a computer;
a computer-readable medium containing software that, when executed by the computer, causes the automated cleaning station to perform a method comprising:
identify at least an identity of the user;
based on information associated with the user determine if a hygiene cycle is needed;
detect a presence of at least one appendage of the user within the wash chamber;
automatically start a washing cycle associated with the wash chamber, wherein the washing cycle occurs over a washing cycle time;
determine if the washing cycle time is complete;
when the washing cycle time is complete, stop the washing cycle and record an indication that the user completed the washing cycle;
when the washing cycle time is not complete, control a sensor to determine if the at least one appendage is within the wash chamber;
when the sensor determines that the at least one appendage is not within the wash chamber, stop the washing cycle and record an indication that the user did not complete the washing cycle; and
when the sensor determines that the at least one appendage is within the wash chamber, continue the washing cycle, wherein the washing cycle continues until occurrence of at least one of: the washing cycle time is complete and the at least one appendage is no longer within the wash chamber.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the software, when executed by the computer, performs the following:
in response to the indication that the user has completed the washing cycle, automatically unlock a locked door thereby allowing the user to pass through the door; and
in response to the indication that the user has not completed the washing cycle, not automatically unlock a locked door thereby preventing the user from passing through the door.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the software, when executed by the computer, performs the following:
in response to the indication that the user has completed the washing cycle, automatically unlock a locked workstation thereby allowing the user to access the workstation; and
in response to the indication that the user has not completed the washing cycle, not automatically unlock a locked workstation thereby preventing the user from accessing the workstation.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the user always indicates that a hygiene cycle is needed.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the user includes job title information.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the user includes an indication of a former location of the user.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the user includes a time of day.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the automated cleaning station is associated with a boundary between hygiene zones.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer comprises a processor, the processor determining at least one of an identifier associated with a first user, whether a first user has failed to complete a wash of a body part successfully and a response to an unsuccessful wash, wherein a plurality of users have a plurality of different responses to an unsuccessful wash and the processor determines a selected response.
10. A system for verifying compliance with a hygiene requirement, comprising:
a rotatable wash basin, the rotatable wash basin configured with a plurality of nozzles fitted to an inside surface of the rotatable wash basin, wherein the wash basin is associated with an automated cleaning station controlled by a computer;
a computer-readable medium containing software that, when executed by the computer, causes the automated cleaning station to perform a method comprising:
identify at least an identity of a user;
based on information associated with the user determine if a hygiene cycle is needed;
detect a presence of at least one appendage of the user within the wash basin;
automatically start a washing cycle associated with the wash chamber, wherein the washing cycle occurs over a washing cycle time;
determine if the washing cycle time is complete;
when the washing cycle time is complete, stop the washing cycle and record an indication that the user completed the washing cycle;
when the washing cycle time is not complete, control a sensor to determine if the at least one appendage is within the wash chamber;
when the sensor determines that the at least one appendage is not within the wash chamber, stop the washing cycle and record an indication that the user did not complete the washing cycle, and
when the sensor determines that the at least one appendage is within the wash chamber, continue the washing cycle, wherein the washing cycle continues until the occurrence of at least one of the washing cycle time is complete and the at least one appendage is no longer within the wash chamber.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the software, when executed by the computer, performs the following:
in response to the indication that the user has completed the washing cycle, automatically unlock a locked door thereby allowing the user to pass through the door; and
in response to the indication that the user has not completed the washing cycle, not automatically unlock a locked door thereby preventing the user from passing through the door.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the software, when executed by the computer, performs the following:
in response to the indication that the user has completed the washing cycle, automatically unlock a locked workstation thereby allowing the user to access the workstation; and
in response to the indication that the user has not completed the washing cycle, not automatically unlock a locked workstation thereby preventing the user from accessing the workstation.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the information associated with the user always indicates that a hygiene cycle is needed.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the information associated with the user includes job title information.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the information associated with the user includes an indication of a former location of the user.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the information associated with the user includes a time of day.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the automated cleaning station is associated with a boundary between hygiene zones.