£10,000 fine in lead poisoning case
19/03/2010
A Scotland-based restoration company has been fined £10,000 after two of its employees were admitted to hospital with acute lead poisoning.
Perth Sheriff Court heard the two workers had ingested lead dust over a period of several months while old paintwork was sanded down at Findynate House, in Strathtay.
As the company had failed to notice the presence of the paint, the employees were not offered protection from the substance, which was probably spread to their homes on their overalls.
Blairish Restorations pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety Act.
Fining the firm, the Sheriff said he had taken into account the fact that action had been taken by the company to ensure the accident would not happen again.
HSE inspector Gary Stimpson said: "This case is important as it reminds primary contractors of their responsibility and duty of care to others working on the site – even if they are not directly employed by them."
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