Preventing Reproductive Hazards in the Workplace

An employee may wish to declare her pregnancy (or intent to become pregnant) so Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) can address possible reproductive hazards in her workplace, and provide information about safe work practices for her physician’s approval.

Declaration of pregnancy is voluntary and all information relating to the pregnancy is strictly confidential.

Contact the EH&S Occupational Health nurse to voluntarily declare a pregnancy (you may choose not to declare a pregnancy):

• E-mail: rsawtelle@ucsd.edu
• Phone: (858) 534-8225
• Mail Code: 0091

Radiation workers: Read Declared Pregnancy and Fetal Monitoring for Radiation Workers.

Required: The PI or supervisor must confirm that employees receive safety training about the hazardous materials they use, and that training records are kept.

Make sure everyone working with a known reproductive hazard understands the risks and how to protect themselves:

• Provide specific Material Safety Data Sheets and Exposure Control Plans for chemicals and biological agents.
• Explain possible health effects and routes of exposure:
  • Skin absorption
  • Inhalation
  • Ingestion
  • Injection
• Provide and train employees in the proper use of personal protective equipment and engineering controls to prevent exposure.
• Review emergency procedures for your facility.
• Keep training records on file.

Review Material Safety Data Sheets and Exposure Control Plans for hazardous materials in your workplace to find out if they are possible reproductive hazards. Consult a variety of other safety resources:

• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
  
  • MSDS sources
  • Biosafety MSDS
• Known reproductive hazards:
  
  • UCSD list (PDF)
  • Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity (PDF), California Environmental Protection Agency
• Other safety resources:
  
  • California Hazard Evaluation System and Information Service (Cal-HESIS)
  • Instruction Concerning Prenatal Radiation Exposure (PDF), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Regulatory Guide 8.13
  • Pregnancy Risk Information Line, California Teratogen Information Service (CTIS)
  • Reproductive Health, National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)
  • UCSD Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine (COEM)
  • Workplace Chemical Hazards to Reproductive Health (PDF), Cal-HESIS

• Use a less dangerous product when you can.
• Avoid work that involves possible exposure to reproductive hazards during pregnancy.
• Use chemical fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, and other engineering controls as needed.
• Keep container sizes and quantities in the work area as small as possible.
• Line work surfaces with removable plastic-backed absorbent paper.
• Wash your hands after working with hazardous materials and before eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics.
• Follow standard operating procedures for Known Human Carcinogens.
• Dispose of hazardous waste properly:
  • Biohazardous and medical waste
  • Chemical waste
  • Radioactive waste

• See personal protective equipment for guidance on what to wear.
• Follow these PPE guidelines:
  
  • Always double-check your PPE before use.
  • Prevent skin exposure at all times.
  • Leave all PPE in the workplace when done.

• See Chemical Storage and Inventory Guidelines.
• Label the work area with a sign saying “Reproductive Hazards Use Area."
• Restrict access to the work area.

Clean up only very small quantities and only if you've been properly trained.

• Prepare for spills.
  
  •  Read How to Handle Chemical Spills in Laboratories.
  •  Keep a chemical spill kit easily accessible.
    
    • Order a spill kit from the Chemistry Stockroom.
  • Read How to Clean Up Minor Radioactive Contamination.
  • Dispose of all spill containment material as hazardous waste.
• Know the locations and how to use the nearest:
  
  • First aid kit
  • Emergency Guide
  • Material Safety Data Sheets
  • Eyewash and emergency shower

Treat any exposure seriously, no matter how slight it may seem at the moment.

• All exposures:
  
  • Give first aid treatment, then seek medical immediately as needed.
  • Call Campus Police at (858) 534-4357 (534-HELP) and request an ambulance if transportation is necessary.
  • Call Poison Control, (800) 876-4766, if additional information is needed.
• Ingestion: Seek medical attention immediately.
• Skin exposure: Flush exposed skin with water for at least 15 minutes while removing any contaminated clothing.
• Eye exposure: Flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. Affected individuals may need help holding their eyes open under water. Seek medical attention immediately at an emergency room.

Read What to Do if a Work-Related Injury, Illness, or Exposure Occurs.

For specific hazard information:

• Biological agents
  • E-mail: ehsbio@ucsd.edu
  • Phone: (858) 534-5366
  • Mail Code: 0091
• Chemical hazards
  • E-mail: ehschem@ucsd.edu
  • Phone: (858) 822-1579
  • Mail Code: 0089
• Radioisotopes
  • E-mail: ehsrad@ucsd.edu
  • Phone: (858) 822-2494
  • Mail Code: 0089

For medical consultation:

• EH&S Occupational Health nurse
  • E-mail: rsawtelle@ucsd.edu
  • Phone: (858) 534-8225
  • Mail Code: 0091