The legal perspective regarding workplace reproductive workplace hazards differs importantly in some respects from usual fitness to work practice - in particular, a fetus has no status as an ‘individual’ under the law.
- exposure to reproductive and developmental hazards (chemical, biological, ergonomic, physical) can occur in many workplaces. For most of these exposures, it is difficult to estimate the health risk to an employee or a developing fetus - studies on the reproductive and developmental health effects of chemicals and other hazards are limited. Human health risks are often inferred from animal or cell-culture studies
- most Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL) have been established for healthy adult males, with limited consideration of women, a developing fetus, or breastfeeding mothers.
- for reproductive hazards, it is prudent to control exposures to a level that is ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA).
- there is a background of adverse reproductive outcomes in the population due to genetics, poor nutrition, smoking, medications, substance use, infections, and medical conditions.
For those work hazards that could affect the fetus (during pregnancy) or the infant
(while breastfeeding), the employee can request modified work to reduce workplace exposures.
- exposure to reproductive and developmental hazards (chemical, biological, ergonomic, physical) can occur in many workplaces. For most of these exposures, it is difficult to estimate the health risk to an employee or a developing fetus - studies on the reproductive and developmental health effects of chemicals and other hazards are limited. Human health risks are often inferred from animal or cell-culture studies
- most Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL) have been established for healthy adult males, with limited consideration of women, a developing fetus, or breastfeeding mothers.
- for reproductive hazards, it is prudent to control exposures to a level that is ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA).
- there is a background of adverse reproductive outcomes in the population due to genetics, poor nutrition, smoking, medications, substance use, infections, and medical conditions.
For those work hazards that could affect the fetus (during pregnancy) or the infant
(while breastfeeding), the employee can request modified work to reduce workplace exposures.
