Heroic Factory Workers Finally Clock Out After 28-Day Shift of Producing Vital Health Care Materials

By Andrew J. Sciascia

Published April 21, 2020 at 4:49pm

American laborers sacrificing to work a nearly month-long shift were finally able to clock out Monday.

Braskem America in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, has been in operation round-the-clock for at least 28 days, manufacturing raw materials needed for the production of N95 masks, hospital gowns and sanitary wipes put in short supply by the ongoing pandemic.

Of course, a manufacturing effort of that magnitude requires manpower and, according to WPVI-TV, 40 Braskem staff members have shouldered the responsibility, volunteering to live at the facility for four weeks straight in order to keep production moving.

Split into two teams, the laborers traded off working 12-hour shifts — eating, sleeping and breaking together on-site.

Their only connections to the outside world were television news broadcasts and drive-by “visits” from family and friends.

With the work taxing and the hours long, operations shift supervisor Joe Boyce told WPVI his staff were understandably relieved when clock-out came on Monday morning and they were able to return to their families.

“There’s been a glow in everyone’s eyes,” Boyce said.

The effort and sacrifice were well-invested, however, with the team of laborers unanimously agreeing the 28-day shift had been a worthwhile act of service.

“We’re truly honored to be able to give back and support people we will never meet in some way,” Boyce said.

“All the first responders, all the people on the frontlines, we thank you,” he added.

“That’s what makes our job easy to do.”

In fact, with many businesses closed by government mandate and Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order extended by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf this week until May 8, Boyce suggested the opportunity had been something of a blessing.

He explained that the workers at Braskem were able to have some normal human interaction during their month on the job.

“We’ve almost been the lucky ones, I’ll say for the last 28 days because I haven’t had to stand six feet from somebody. I haven’t had to put a mask on,” he said.

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Poster Comment:

I wonder if there were showers at the work place so the workers did not get stinky.