Council employees in Dundee fear they are being slowly poisoned by their employers’ flagship new headquarters.
The Courier has been told that a significant number of staff at Dundee House have been falling ill with chest complaints.
A number are said to have reported serious breathing problems, while some have developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
One source, who asked not to be named, said health and safety had done nothing to address the issue, despite clear evidence of concerns.
A letter is said to have been sent to management-level staff within the past few months questioning whether there had been an increase in the number of people absent with chest complaints.
The conversion of the former printing works has been hailed as a major achievement, with the Dundee House project winning a British Construction Industry Award for its designers in 2012.
It houses the majority of the council’s corporate offices and departments, including education, housing and children and families’ services.
The source said: “A letter was circulated a few months ago asking for management to be notified if any people had been off with chest complaints.
“As it transpired, there were quite a few people off in one department alone, but it appears that health and safety have since done nothing about it.
“One person I know of has suffered from chest problems for the past three years, ever since they moved into this new building, and they have had to take leaves of absence more than once.
“I know of another person who has been diagnosed with COPD yet I am unsure whether anyone has taken a serious look at this.”
The source said there was concern that when the building was “tarted up” for the council the old stonework had not been treated or sealed.
“In some places if you run your hands over the walls they are covered with little stones and dust,” they said.
“I can see a lawsuit coming if it turns out that it is the building that is making people sick.
“Someone needs to look at Dundee House and they must be independent, without any interest in the building or Dundee City Council.
“When people are away from the building for any length of time they see an improvement in their health and their breathing in particular. It cannot be coincidence.”
The source also claimed some people were “frightened to go off on the sick” for fear of being “put on a monitor” and potentially facing a threat to their job should they take time off more than once.
A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “We have received a complaint from an individual and we will be investigating.”