'Workers may be eligible for compensation' over safety breaches

A number of workers may be eligible for compensation after their wellbeing was compromised by their employer.

During a recent hearing, Blairish Restorations pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The company had failed to identify that lead paint was present during a renovation project on the Findynate Estate and thus had not taken suitable precautions while the old paintwork was sanded down and removed.

As a result, workers inhaled and ingested the dust over a period of several months and the substance was also transferred to their homes via their clothes, potentially endangering their families.

Two of the staff members had to be admitted to hospital with lead poisoning.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Gary Stimpson commented: "Exposure to lead can result in significant and debilitating symptoms such as anaemia, nausea and constipation and even nerve, brain and/or kidney damage."

According to figures produced by the organisation, workers in the UK suffered a total of 246,000 reportable injuries in 2008-09.