DEARBORN (WWJ) - Carhartt is joining in the effort to supply first responders and health care workers with critical items.
The Dearborn-based workwear company says it is shifting production at factories in Kentucky and Tennessee to make medical gowns and masks for as long as the items remain in short supply.
On Monday, April 6, Carhartt says it will begin producing 50,000 medical gowns, and on April 20, the company will begin manufacturing 2.5 million masks.
"Serving and answering the call during times of need has always been an integral part of Carhartt’s history and it's why consumers have trusted us to have their back for more than 130 years," CEO Mark Valade said in a statement. "We are humbled and honored to help all the essential workers serving and protecting us right now."
Associates from Carhartt’s manufacturing facilities have volunteered to produce these items and the company will continue to compensate them for their contribution to the effort to support the nation’s need for medical personal protective equipment.
The company is also working closely with local health authorities and following recommended protocols to ensure a safe work environment for employees. This includes implementing social distancing protocols, limiting the number of employees, and increasing sanitation measures within facilities to ensure the health and well-being of team members.
Over the last few weeks, Carhartt temporarily closed all company-owned stores and implemented temporary rotating paid work schedules in its manufacturing and distribution facilities to encourage social distancing among associates.