The yard of Notre-Dame de Paris will gradually resume, starting the week of August 12, with the arrival of new protection measures for employees potentially exposed to lead, said Friday the prefecture of Île-de-France. La France. "The prefect decided to gradually resume the work from the week of August 12," said the prefecture.
The site had been suspended last week for "a few days" to review the health precaution rules for people working on site, had explained the prefect Michel Cadot. A report from the labor inspectorate showed that these rules were "not enough" and not "systematically applied", according to him.
Several hundred tons of lead melted in nature
During the fire that partially destroyed the Gothic cathedral on April 15, several hundred tons of lead contained in the boom frame and the roof melted and volatilized in the form of particles.
The exact day of recovery, the week of August 12, is not yet known. It will be decided according to "the installation of additional decontamination facilities that will arrive that week" and that will allow "30 to 40 people to work at the same time on the site.
In addition, safety procedures for workers "have been reviewed" and validated by the Labor Inspectorate, it was added.
More footbaths and decontamination showers will be installed
Specifically, more footbaths and decontamination showers will be installed. Procedures for the movement of people and methods of decontamination from one area to another have been reviewed and staff will be trained and informed. The report of the Labor Inspectorate concluded in particular that "decontamination facilities [were] undersized", according to the prefecture.
Chronic exposure to too high levels of lead, by inhalation or ingestion, can result in digestive disorders, impaired kidney function, nervous system damage or reproductive abnormalities.