Preconception, Pregnancy and the Workplace

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Preconception, Pregnancy and the Workplace
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Knowledge is Power!

• If you and your partner are planning a family or
  are pregnant, the following slides will provide
  information on how to decrease your risk of
  exposure to reproductive hazards during your
  working hours.
• Before conception, the parents sperm and egg
  cells can be damaged by toxins found in
  occupational or lifestyle exposures.

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Plan Ahead to Avoid Putting the Baby at Risk

• Your babys major organs start forming even
  before you know you are pregnant.
• During pregnancy there is rapid cell growth and
  the developing fetus is very sensitive to toxic
  substances.

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Talk to Your Health Care Provider to Assess

• Specific work needs
• Biological
• Chemical
• Physical

• Health before conception
• Work environment
• Reproductive hazards at work
• Ergonomic

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Ergonomic Hazards for Pregnant Women

• Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to
  the worker.
• Changes in the pregnant body may increase
  ergonomic hazards
• Body weight is increased
• Centre of gravity is shifted forward
• Muscles of pelvis are more relaxed allowing
  joints to become less stable

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Ergonomic Hazards for Pregnant Women

• Awkward positions
• Heavy lifting and carrying
• Repetitive work
• Sitting or standing for long periods

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Ergonomic Hazards Health Concerns

• Preterm birth
• Low birth weight
• Spontaneous miscarriage

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Ergonomic Hazards Recommendations

• Talk to your health care provider about your
  pregnancy and the type of work that you do.
• Most jobs need only a few changes to decrease
  health risks.

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Chemical Hazards for Pregnant Women

• Chemicals can enter your body in three different
  ways
• Lungs breathing through your lungs.
• Skin absorbing through your skin.
• Stomach ingesting through your mouth.

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Chemical Hazards Health Concerns

• Infertility
• Miscarriage
• Slower growth of fetus
• Birth defects

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Chemical Hazards Recommendations

• Read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
• Follow the MSDS guidelines
• Talk to your Health Safety representative
• Talk to your health care provider
• Wash your hands before eating

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Biological Hazards for Pregnant Women

• Biological risks can include infections from the
  following sources
• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Funguses
• Parasites

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Biological Hazards Health Concerns

• Infections can cause miscarriage or birth
  defects.
• Working with children who have infectious
  diseases increases the risk of contracting the
  disease yourself.

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Biological Hazards Recommendations

• Update your immunization before pregnancy.
• Avoid contact with people who appear ill.
• Wear protection as recommended.
• Wash your hands often.
• Talk to your health care provider, Health
  Safety Representative, Occupational Health Clinic
  for Ontario Workers or local Health Unit.

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Physical Hazards for Pregnant Women

• Noise
• Vibration
• Extreme heat or cold
• Radiation

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Physical Hazards Health Concerns

• Birth defects
• Low birth weight
• Preterm labour
• Hearing loss in the baby

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Physical Hazards Recommendations

• Talk to your supervisor or Health Safety
  Representative
• Avoid
• long periods of loud noise
• extreme heat or cold
• x-rays (wear protective equipment if x-rays
  cannot be avoided)

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For More Specific Reproductive Hazard Information

• Best Start, Ontarios Maternal, Newborn Early
  Child Development Resource Centre 1-800-397-9567
  www.beststart.org
• Motherisk
  1-416-813-6780 www.motherisk.org

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For More Specific Reproductive Hazard Information

• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health Safety
  www.ccohs.ca
• Health Canada www.hc-sc.gc.ca
• Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers
  www.ochcow.on.ca
• Ontario Human Rights Commission www.ohrc.on.ca

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For More Specific Reproductive Hazard Information

• Windsor Occupational Health Information Service
  www.wohis.org
• Workers Health Safety Centre www.whsc.on.ca

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References

• Best Start Ontarios Maternal, Newborn and
  Early Child Development Resource Centre. (2001).
  Preconception and health Resource and
  strategies. Toronto Best Start Resource
  Centre.

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References

• Best Start Ontarios Maternal, Newborn and
  Early Child Development Resource Centre. (2006).
  Playing it safe Service provider strategies to
  reduce environmental risks to preconception,
  prenatal and child health. Toronto Ontario
  Prevention Clearinghouse.

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References

• Canadian Partnership for Childrens Health and
  Environment.(2005). Child Health and the
  Environment-A Primer. Toronto Author.