After a month-long hiatus, workers are - safely - returning to work on the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Anti-contamination measures were required for those at work rebuilding the monument due to the significant amount of hazardous debris involved.

Workers now don throwaway full-body clothing, including disposable underwear, and other protective gear after fears of lead contamination resulted in the delay, reports Premier.

Only after proper attire, mandatory showers, and a newly-created decontamination zone were created were stonemasons, cleanup workers, and scientists allowed to resume work on Notre Dame.

The measures are to both protect workers from any type of contact with lead and to prevent the tracking of pollution outside of the site.

Work at this time includes clearing out potentially dangerous debris from the cathedral and studying it, the beginning of a long and expensive reconstruction. Concerns of lead contamination, however, have slowed progress in this step and delayed future work.

The worries arise from the hundreds of tons of melted lead that were left after the fire that collapsed the cathedral's spire and roof on April 15. Toxic dust was released into the air, and some environmental activists believe that the risks of lead poisoning after the incident were downplayed by the French Authorities.

In response, the Paris regional administration paused work for the month of July to implement new measures to protect workers from harm. Neighbourhood schools and surrounding streets are also being tended to for any lead contamination beyond the Notre Dame's walls. However, the regional health authority has stated that the main risk for contamination exists within the cathedral and its forecourt. No dangerous levels of lead have registered for any areas beyond the monument.

One individual working on Notre Dame says he is anxious to resume work after losing so much time. "Notre Dame hasn't been saved yet," he said.

According to French President Emmanuel Macron, work on Notre Dame is expected to last five years, though many believe it will take much longer.