Ferrari is keen to reopen factory, launches an interesting project
Ferrari S.p.A. has announced to extend the suspension of its manufacturing activity at its Maranello and Modena base until May 3 following the Italian government’s latest announcement.
Ferrari was the first F1 team to suspend its operation after Italy had become the epicenter of the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis just at the time of the Australian Grand Prix weekend. The iconic Italian company has not only shut down its racing department, but suspended its entire manufacturing operation.
After the virus continued to spread across Europe, F1 was urged to bring forward its traditional summer shutdown from August to March and April. With the situation becoming more threatening, every F1 team decided to commence its shutdown that has been extended to five weeks since.
Although the situation has shown significant improvement in Italy, its government continues to keep restrictions in place in order to prevent the spread of the virus from becoming faster. In response to the ongoing strict measures in Italy, Ferrari has extended its shutdown.
“All activities that can be managed by smart working will continue regularly as in the past weeks. The Company will continue to pay days of absence for all of those unable to adopt this solution, as it has done since closure of its premises on 14 March,” read a Ferrari statement.
People are our most precious resource. Our ‘Back on Track’ program, in partnership with a pool of virologists and experts, ensures the entire ‘Ferrari Community’ will have access to free testing, counseling and monitoring in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) April 8, 2020
Back on track
In a bid to be able to continue its operation as early as possible, Ferrari has launched a project, termed “Back on Track”. The initiative sees a pool of virologists and experts work together, aiming to provide a safe working environment from the resumption of the company’s productive activities.
The project is based on three steps. The first step “provides in primis the full implementation of the 'Protocol for the regulation of measures to combat and contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the workplace', signed on 14 March 2020 and, further strengthened and customized with the support of specialists with expert knowledge of Ferrari's work environment.”
As the second step, the company will ask its employees to volunteer to a blood test that should check the state of health in relation to the virus. The screening will also enable Ferrari to get a picture of the health status of the company population.
In the third step, “each worker is offered the opportunity to use an App, to receive medical support in monitoring the symptoms of the virus.” The company will also provide “a health and psychological assistance service to its staff by telephone or directly at home.”
Ferrari will provide the Emilia Romagna Region with the results of its screening, sharing its experiences that could be used in the community.
