TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WBEN) - It was back to work Monday for many General Motors and Ford workers in Western New York. After a nearly two month shutdown, production has resumed.
"Don't think of this as flipping a switch and going back to full scale," said GM Vice President of Global Workplace Safety Jim Glynn about operations at the Tonawanda Engine Plant. "We're going to start very slowly, very cautiously to make sure that everybody who enters our site is aware of the protocols and is comfortable with them. We will gradually build up to scale."
New protocols will begin in the employee parking lot. Every worker will be asked to wear a mask and have their temperature taken before entering the plant.
Other changes will affect common areas, such as the break room. "We have to learn new social habits," said Glynn. "We tend to want to sit right next to somebody to share a meal or a cup of coffee. We're removing chairs and putting in social cues to remind people to stay six feet apart."
GM has a medical team on site at every plant. They are able to rapid test any worker showing symptoms.
Ford is partnering with local health officials to send any workers with symptoms to nearly clinics.
The Woodlawn Stamping plant makes metal parts for a variety of Ford vehicles. Like GM, Ford is slowly bringing production up to scale with a limited workforce initially.
GM's Lockport Components plant resumed production earlier this month with a smaller staff, using similar new protocols.