GE Renewable Energy has reopened its LM Wind Power blade factory in Cherbourg, France, after a three-day closure instigated by COVID-19 concerns.
The facility reopened on Monday and is aiming for usual capacity, it is understood.
“GE’s and LM Wind Power’s number one priority is the health and safety of our employees,” a GE spokesperson said.
The plant was closed as a “precautionary step” to “strengthen sanitary measures within the site, guarantee compliance with government recommendations and adapt the organisation to these new procedures”.
“The site reopened this Monday and trained the workforce around the new measures,” added the spokesperson.
GE said it also carried out a precise risk assessment for Cherbourg and has put plans in place for future operations.
The company has limited group meetings as much as possible by introducing staggered arrival and departure times to prevent staff from crossing each other in the premises and in the changing rooms.
It has also introduced measures including no grouping of teams and distancing of at least one metre while cleaning measures for premises and sanitary facilities have been reinforced.
The Cherbourg-based GE facility combines the manufacture of 107-metre long blades for the Haliade-X 12MW offshore wind turbine and other blade models for its customers in France and abroad.
The plant currently employs more than 260 people but GE plans to double the workforce to eventually reach nearly 550 employees.
GE has invested more than €120m in its French factories at Cherbourg and Saint-Nazaire.