Occupational Health and Pregnancy
April 24th, 2019 | Clinical ConnectionsKey Messages for Health Care Professionals in the Finger Lakes Region
Below is helpful information from Finger Lakes Occupational Health Services (FLOHS) regarding occupational health and pregnancy. Please contact Dr. Cristina Demian, Medical Director of FLOHS, with questions.
Why worry about occupational hazards for pregnant women?
• Women are more than half the U.S. workforce.
• Two-thirds of women work during their first pregnancy.
• Hazards in the workplace can harm pregnant women and their unborn babies.
What kinds of reproductive and development hazards should we consider?
• Physical (lifting, sitting, long hours, noise, extreme temperature, radiation, etc.)
• Chemical (lead, pesticides, organic solvents, second-hand smoke, etc.)
• Biological (many viruses and bacteria common in workplaces, especially healthcare)
• Psychosocial (stress, risk of job loss, etc.)
How can health care professionals screen or test women for health risks related to their jobs?
• Ask pregnant women about possible risks at work
• See CDC’s guide to what to ask: www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/repro/healthcare.html
• Screening/Testing all pregnant women for lead in their blood is required by New York State
What laws and regulations protect pregnant women at work?
• OSHA gives ALL workers a right to a safe work environment
• The Pregnancy Discrimination Act addresses temporary reassignment based on pregnancy
• Family and Medical Leave Act ensures 12 weeks unpaid leave
What about environmental exposures and other hazards at home or hobbies?
• Many health care professionals were not trained in environmental health
• Pregnancy is a time of greater vulnerability to environmental hazards
• CDC’s site for more information is: https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/during.html
• MotherToBaby UR Medicine site for additional information and Fact Sheets: www.mothertobaby.urmc.edu
Resources
Finger Lakes Occupational Health Services (FLOHS): (585) 244-4771 www.urmc.rochester.edu/finger-lakes-occupational-health.aspx
Mother to Baby UR Medicine: Call line – 585 275 3638; Toll Free 844 352 3420 https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/ob-gyn/obstetrics/mother-to-baby.aspx; or [email protected]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Pregnancy and your Job” www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/repro/pregnancyjob.html
Produced by Finger Lakes Occupational Health Services (FLOHS), last updated 03/01/2019
