Trending Topics

Wash. state inmates sewing protective gowns to fill shortage

Coyote Ridge Corrections Center inmates are able to make 500 hospitals gowns daily and hope to increase that to 2,100

Untitled (58).jpg

By Cameron Probert
Tri-City Herald

CONNELL, Wash. — Prisoners at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell are doing their part to fill a need for protective gowns across Washington.

Healthcare workers are facing shortages of everything from bed sheets to face masks as they treat coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.

Several companies, including Nike, Toyota and GM, have stepped in with help ranging from making face shields to putting together ventilators.

The textiles factory at the Coyote Ridge started to make the single-use nylon gowns last week after the State Emergency Operations Center asked the Department of Corrections for help.

“It’s kind of nice feeling to be able to give back, especially in this time of need,” said Roger Hewitt, the textiles supervisor at the facility.

The factory normally makes sweatshirts, sweatpants, undergarments and the other items that inmates use. Typically, between 1,800 to 2,000 garments are produced each week.

Inmates at Coyote Ridge are now able to make 500 hospitals gowns daily and hope to increase that to 2,100.

Airway Heights Corrections Center’s factory has partnered in the effort and nearly 50 inmates are working at the project between the two locations that have produced 3,640 gowns.

Brian Burke, one of the inmates and a Correctional Industries worker, designed the pattern for the gowns.

“My daughter was extremely pleased,” he said in a Department of Corrections video. “She’s like, ‘There are so many people who are in dire need for it, the fact that you have a part in this, you should be proud of yourself.’”

The department said they are following Centers for Disease Control guidelines including social distancing while producing high-quality products.

It’s unclear how many it will take to fill the need.

Looking for help

Prisons across the state are looking for help as they expect large portions of their workforce being out sick because of the coronavirus.

The department believes it will need to hire several new people in all of their facilities to be on stand-by if current correctional officers are diagnosed with COVID-19.

“Corrections’ goal is to maintain public safety during the COVID-19 public health crisis,” said Corrections Secretary Steven Sinclair. “As we work to protect our employees and those in our care from expose to COVID-19, ensuring staffing is critical. These vital public service jobs provide a great opportunity for individuals seeking a career in corrections.”

The positions are on-call, and people have the opportunity to work 32 to 40 hours in a week, but there isn’t a guarantee they will work that many.

The department is hoping to have people trained and ready to start within the next two to four weeks. The department expects to recruit, screen, interview, test and train all of new correction officers within 32 days.

The training provides versions of the essential courses that are part of the correctional worker core academy. The positions are temporary, but can lead to a permanent spot.

The job requires that people have a high school diploma or a GED diploma and a valid driver’s license.

They also can’t have any felony convictions.

———

©2020 Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.)

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU