On the Dash:
- GM’s Cole Engineering Center tested positive for Legionella bacteria, prompting a building closure and remote work for over 10,000 employees.
- The automaker is working with experts and local health authorities to fully remediate affected systems before reopening.
- The closure highlights ongoing risks of Legionella in large facilities and the importance of monitoring water systems in industrial and office environments.
General Motors confirmed that its Cole Engineering Center at the GM Technical Center in Warren tested positive for Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaires’ disease. The automaker closed the building on Sept. 10 after two employees were diagnosed with the illness, both of whom have since recovered. The nearly 10,000 to 11,000 employees assigned to the building have been working remotely during the closure.
GM announced on Sept. 24 that the building will remain closed for at least the upcoming week. The company is developing a comprehensive remediation plan in collaboration with third-party experts and local health authorities to ensure the building is safe for employees and minimize any future risk of exposure. The automaker emphasized that the safety of its employees will be the deciding factor for when the facility can reopen, and it plans to keep staff informed throughout the process.
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which thrives in water systems such as plumbing, cooling towers, and hot tubs. GM is working to clear the bacteria from all affected systems before allowing employees back into the facility.
The Cole Engineering Center houses many of GM’s engineers and designers who work on advanced vehicle design, engineering, and research. This is the first closure of the building for a health-related issue since 2020, when the facility was shut down after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
