The members of Sheet Metal Workers Local 24 are playing an imperative role in keeping doctors, nurses, first responders and others safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members working for signatory contractor Wolf Metals have helped build decontamination units used to clean N95 masks. They performed all the metal work on these units.
According to the Battelle website, The Battelle CCDS Critical Care Decontamination System™ addresses the current shortage of critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across the U.S. by removing COVID-19 off of N95 respirators.
The unit can decontaminate thousands of N95 respirators by exposing them to concentrated, vapor phase hydrogen peroxide, which kills and decontaminates biological contaminants, including the coronavirus. The decontamination unit allows the same respirator to be used multiple times without degrading N95 respirator performance.
Thanks to the efforts of Wolf Metals and their employees, thousands of medical professionals and first responders are able to perform their jobs with clean N95 masks.
Wolf Metals is a member owned specialty metal fabrication company, founded by Local 24 member Jim Wolf in 1974.
Today, it is a second-generation company run by Jim’s son and Local 24 member Mike Wolf, who is the Plant Manager.
“The Local is very proud to have the opportunity to potentially save the lives of doctors, nurses and others during this pandemic,” said Local 24 Business Manager Rodney French. “We are proud of the hard work and long hours our members have put in during these difficult times to complete this very important project.
It will and already has been a game changer in making sure there is available PPE for healthcare and first responders all over the world,” he added.
The Local thanks Wolf Metals and all the members working on this project.