Workers suffered acute lead paint poisoning

Work involving the sanding down of old paintwork on a Perthshire estate caused workers to inhale and ingest lead dust over the summer months of 2008 to the extent that 2 were admitted to hospital with acute lead poisoning.

Blairish Restorations Limited of Aberfeldy failed to identify the hazard in the work at Findynate Estate, Strathtay, and no precautions were in place.

Blairish admitted breaching S.3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £10,000.
An HSE official commented: "There may be a view that lead is an historic problem, which was dealt with a long time ago.

This prosecution shows that this is not the case. Those involved in renovating old buildings need to be particularly vigilant. Once dust or fume is generated from operations such as sanding, paint burning it easily enters the body through normal breathing or swallowing, where it accumulates causing debilitating symptoms."

Article created by Editor. (info@safetynetscotland.co.uk)