Château de Versailles is not only famous for its beauty and historical significance, it is also at the center of the first lawsuit filed in France alleging lead poisoning during the restoration of a historical monument.

After 15 years of legal wrangling, the case finally appeared on its way to resolution when the Versailles criminal court held a preliminary hearing on the matter on September 30. However, the hearing was postponed until February at the request of the castle’s chief architect, Frédéric Didier, who received his summons three days late. Jean-Jacques Neuer, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, said he was “outraged” by this new delay.

The legend was released in 2009, in the XV. It began after a two-year restoration of the palace’s sumptuously decorated royal opera house, built entirely of wood by Louis XIV’s architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel and meticulously preserved since it opened in 1770. Workers involved in the restoration say they paid a high price: they claim they were intoxicated by lead dust while cleaning the statues and decorations.

According to the documents revealed at the hearing, 9 real and legal persons are being referred to the courthouse. Six people are accused of causing unintentional damage through negligence, including the contractor authority that oversaw the restoration and the culture ministry’s heritage operator, who served as the castle’s chief architect.

The company that led the work, Asselin, a company specializing in historical monuments, whose founder François Asselin (who is also president of the French confederation of small and medium-sized companies) and the former project manager face more serious charges than endangering people. Witness life and distortion. Although six of the carpenters are civilians in the case, the investigating judge says more workers were contaminated. The judge dropped the charges against Château de Versailles, concluding that it was not responsible for the way the work was carried out because it had bound the project to the contract.

For centuries, white lead, also called seruse, was widely used as a pigment. It has been suspected of being harmful since the Renaissance, and its toxicity was proven in the 19th century; but was banned in France and the United Kingdom only in the 1990s. Lead poisoning has long-term effects on various parts of the body; Even small doses can cause serious health problems. It can be lethal at high levels.

Blood lead levels are alarming

Didier Andrieu, the carpenter who raised the alarm, said he discovered the poisoning by accident after complaining to his doctor about various symptoms and requesting a blood test. Art Newspaper. He was “shocked” to discover the lead level in his blood was eight times normal. He was immediately taken to hospital. Their colleagues had similar or even higher levels. Years of chaotic legal procedures followed, and Andrieu said he was “revolted by the reactions” to his claims.

According to the investigations carried out within the scope of the trial, the field was not adequately ventilated and the workers were not provided with sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE). Andrieu said he had to confront his employer and alert labor inspection authorities to take the necessary measures. The inspectors’ report noted that lead dust at the site was “20 times higher than the norm” and acknowledged “a clear link with the level of lead in the blood of workers employed by Asselin and the disrespect for safety rules”.

The criminal investigation alleges Asselin staff forged documents and pressured workers to testify that their colleagues were not wearing PPE, when in fact they were not provided with it. All parties have been contacted for a response; Asselin’s lawyer declined to comment.

“The restoration work had to continue for another two months,” says Andrieu’s lawyer, Jean-Jacques Neuer. “If my client had not warned everyone, lead poisoning could have been more serious, even fatal.” Pointing out that this drama was “staged against the backdrop of the Château de Versailles”, he said “the moral point is clear: what is the value of a worker’s life in a world dominated by money and power?”