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FCA Prepares to Bring Back North American Workers

More than 57 million square feet of manufacturing floor space cleaned and disinfected.

Weld curtains hang across the door line at FCA’s Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant to protect employees from the spread and transmission of COVID-19.
Weld curtains hang across the door line at FCA’s Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant to protect employees from the spread and transmission of COVID-19.
FCA

Auburn Hills, Mich. -- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is preparing to resume North American manufacturing operations. The company has developed a comprehensive program of enhanced safety measures to protect employees, their families and the surrounding communities from the spread and transmission of COVID-19 when the plants reopen. 

Since closing its plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico on March 18, FCA has been working to put in place best practices that have enabled the restart of operations at its facilities in China and Italy.  

Aligned with World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommendations, these protocols, along with the actions employees will be required to take to safeguard themselves and others, were mailed to nearly 47,000 U.S. and Canadian employees. Mexico will share the same information through in-person training. 

FCA will require its employees, as well as all visitors, to complete a Daily Health Risk Assessment, which consists of: 

  • Taking their temperature less than two hours before reporting to work
  • Completing a self-screening questionnaire and turning it in upon entry

The Company is installing thermal imaging cameras to verify what employees and visitors have self-reported. 

Consistent with the direction of governmental agencies, employees will be required to wear company-provided masks and safety glasses at all times when in the facility. Employees will also be asked to wear gloves and safety glasses when applying or cleaning with disinfectant spray.  

Visitors and contractors to any FCA facility will be required to provide their own personal protection equipment for entry.

During the production pause, FCA completed a number of cleaning and social distancing activities to prepare its facilities for when operations resume. These include: 

Cleaning and Disinfecting:

  • More than 57 million square feet of manufacturing floor space cleaned and disinfected
  • Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting schedules developed for common and high traffic areas, including turnstiles, restrooms, cafeterias, locker rooms and conference rooms
  • 135 hand-held foggers distributed for more efficient cleaning of these areas
  • Provided cleaning supplies at all workstations so surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected
  • Installed more than 2,000 hand sanitizer stations across all facilities
  • Daily audits to be conducted to ensure new standards are followed

Social Distancing:

  • More than 17,000 workstations analyzed and evaluated for adherence to six-foot social distancing guidelines
  • More than 4,700 job areas and workstations redesigned or protective barriers installed to allow for more social distancing
  • Installed plexiglass partitions and created visual management guides for social distancing in break areas and cafeterias, as well as throughout all buildings
  • Staggered start times and added time to breaks and lunch to minimize large gatherings
  • Suspended meetings of more than eight employees at a time and transitioned to virtual meetings, wherever possible
  • Put new approval protocols in place for facility visitors

Upon the restart of production, FCA is adopting a new level of daily cleaning and disinfecting, in accordance with WHO, CDC and OSHA recommendations, at all manufacturing locations in order to maintain the enhanced levels of cleanliness and sanitation. In addition to increasing the number of times per shift that high-traffic, high-use areas, as well as common touchpoints, are cleaned and disinfected, 10 minutes per shift will be dedicated to cleaning and disinfecting employee workstations.

Signage promoting the themes of health and safety have been posted throughout all facilities to remind employees and visitors of proper protocols related to cleaning, social distancing, required personal protection equipment and handwashing or sanitizing. Employees also will participate in small-group training sessions on the new policies and procedures as part of their first-day activities. 

FCA will continue to monitor and audit conditions at all facilities, as well as the latest information on COVID-19 from federal and state agencies, to implement new safeguards and procedures as needed.

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