Reprotoxic substances

A child born with birth defect, a miscarriage, difficulty conceiving, impotence are personal tragedies lived in private by couples and families. Tragedies that may be assumed to have individual or even family or genetic causes. It is not often that the working conditions of victims of reproductive health disorders are looked at.

And yet, workplaces are a window of exposure to a long catalogue of reprotoxins, including chemicals like heavy metals, pesticides, solvents, endocrine disruptors, etc., physical (excessive heat, ionizing radiation, etc.), psychological (stress) and ergonomic factors (heavy loads, night- or shift work, etc.).

Recent research shows how far occupational exposure to chemicals affects not only the different aspects of men and women workers' reproductive life, but also their children's health.

The Pregnant Workers Directive: Not very protective

The Pregnant Workers Directive was adopted in 1992. The maternity protection aspect is pretty feeble. The preventive measures that employers have to take are very vague. They offer no protection for the unborn child in the first weeks of pregnancy, and encourage employers to transfer pregnant workers away from the job instead of eliminating the risk and providing prevention at source. Also, unlike the other health and safety at work directives, the Pregnant Workers Directive does not require workers' reps to be consulted on preventive measures. Revision of the Directive is in hand. Unfortunately, the Commission is refusing to touch the measures on the organization of prevention.

More information

AplusA-online.de - Source: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work