Steps for Supervisor
As a supervisor, you should be aware of your responsibility to protect workers in your lab who are pregnant.
- Reproductive Health: Information from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is available on reproductive health and the workplace.
- Safety Net #54 - Pregnancy and the University Workplace
Here are some ways you can be proactive:
- Identify reproductive hazards in the lab.
- Know that there can be potential risks for chemical, radiological, physical and biological hazards for pregnant women.
- Have lab personnel read SDS and document they have been read.
- Encourage your lab personnel to let you know as soon as they become pregnant (but you cannot require them to report reproductive status).
When you learn of a pregnancy (declared), you should do the following:
- Contact EH&S
- Meet with the employee to discuss fetal health concerns and document the discussions.
- Encourage pregnant employees to discuss work risks with their physicians and obtain documentation for any necessary accommodations.
- Establish reasonable work practices, including providing appropriate PPE.
- Consult administration to assure you are complying with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, if applicable.
More information on pregnancy in the workplace:
- Safety Net #107 -Pregnancy and Reproductive Hazards in the Workplace: Physical and Biological Hazards
- Safety Net #108- Pregnancy and Reproductive Hazards in the Workplace: Chemical and Radiological Hazards