Thu, April 2, 2020
"I have family all across the country, so (COVID-19) has impacted everybody that I know and love," Hollis said. "I'm grateful that I get a chance to do my part and be a part of something...we are modern-day Rosie the Riveters."
Hollis and the production team, which will grow to more than 1,000 men and women, including people who already work for
"Every ventilator we build can help save lives, and
Saving Lives and Keeping People Safe
To help protect people working at the
Arrival for Work:
- Everyone arriving for work will be required to sanitize their hands immediately upon arrival and have their temperature checked with a non-contact thermometer before entering the job site.
- Everyone will work their shift wearing medical-grade protective masks, including masks produced at
GM's Warren, Michigan facility.
At Work:
- There will be a 30-minute interval between shifts to allow employees to clean their workstations when they arrive and again before they leave.
- There will be signage throughout the facility reminding team members to practice social distancing.
- Each workstation will be manned by one person, and each workstation will be spaced at least six feet apart.
- Cleaning crews will clean and sanitize common touch surfaces such as door handles, as well as common areas, at least three times per shift.
Between Shifts:
- Initial production will begin with one shift, with second and third shifts added soon thereafter.
- Each shift will enter and exit through a different door to minimize social contact.
"The men and women building these ventilators raised their hands to help save the lives of people suffering from COVID-19," said Dr.
Strong Support from UAW Leadership
The health and safety of every person who enters a
"As our nation struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteer UAW-GM members are doing a tremendous service for our country by volunteering to come to work to make ventilators in
Added
A Phone Call Sets an Unprecedented Effort into Motion
The unprecedented teamwork that has allowed ventilator production in
StopTheSpread.org was founded by
GM and Ventec executives had their first conference call onWednesday, March 18 to explore howGM may be able to help Ventec increase ventilator production.- The next day, a
GM team flew toSeattle to meet with the Ventec team and roll up their sleeves to help. - On
Friday, March 20 ,GM engaged its global supply base and within 72 hours, they had developed plans to source 100 percent of the necessary parts. The UAW's national and local leadership embraced the project and onWednesday, March 25 , crews began preparing theKokomo site for production.- Mass production begins in mid-April. Production will quickly scale up to 10,000 critical care ventilators or more per month.
Ventec Life Systems is redefining respiratory care to improve patient outcomes and reduce caregiver challenges from the hospital to home. Ventec's leading product, VOCSN, is the first and only Multi-Function Ventilator that seamlessly integrates five devices - a critical care Ventilator, 6 L/min equivalent Oxygen concentrator, touch button Cough assist, hospital grade Suction, and a high-performance Nebulizer - into one integrated respiratory system that is lightweight and mobile. VOCSN is fully customizable to meet patient needs for pediatric and adult patients. Learn more at VentecLife.com and connect with Ventec on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/strict-protocols-in-place-to-protect-the-health-of-the-gm-team-building-ventecs-critical-care-ventilators-in-kokomo-301034430.html
SOURCE
Jim Cain, General Motors, 313-407-2843, james.cain@chevrolet.com; Dan Flores, General Motors, 313-418-2374, daniel.flores@gm.com
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