Pregnant and breastfeeding staff
In connection with pregnancy and breastfeeding, there are special issues to pay extra attention regarding the risks in the work environment.
Pregnant and breastfeeding staff are entitled to an individual risk assessment of their work environment.
The Swedish Work Environment Authority's provision on Pregnant and breastfeeding workers (see link below) regulates what kind of work may be performed by pregnant and breastfeeding workers.
The purpose of this provision is to prevent pregnant workers, workers who have recently given birth and workers who are breastfeeding, from being exposed to factors or conditions at work that may lead to the risk of ill-health or accidents.
See also the Swedish Work Environment Authority's theme page and other links and documents.
The following factors shall be investigated:
- Load ergonomic factors
- Psycho-social factors
- Physical factors
- Infectious agents
- Chemical substances.
For instructions see “Supporting work environment document – Pregnant and nursing personnel in KI laboratories” under Documents below.
More information on Chemical substances
The following chemical substances may pose risks to pregnant / breastfeeding workers:
- lead/lead compounds Note! Pregnant staff/students are not allowed to work with lead.
- carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reproductive substances
- organ toxic products
- mercury/mercury compounds
- cytostatic
- carbon monoxide
- chemical substances that are harmful when absorbed through the skin.
Examples of such chemicals that are common at KI are:
- Acetonitrile CAS: 75-05-8
- Acrylamide CAS: 79-06-1
- Benzene CAS: 71-43-2
- Boric acid CAS: 10043-35-3
- Chloroform CAS: 67-66-3
- Dimethylformamide CAS: 68-12-2
- Dimethylsulfoxide CAS: 67-68-5
- Ethylene glycol CAS: 107-21-1
- Formaldehyde CAS: 50-00-0
- Formamide CAS: 75-12-7
- Hexane CAS: 110-54-3
- 2-Mercaptoethanol CAS: 60-24-2
- Methanol CAS: 67-56-1
- Phenol CAS: 108-95-2
- Xylene CAS: 106-42-3, 108-38-3, 1330-20-7, 95-47-6
A complete list of the chemicals which are harmful to pregnant and breastfeeding staff can be found in KLARA. Go to Registration and Search products. Use the list Pregnant and breastfeeding staff (see picture below).
Note: Identify all chemicals in your laboratory that are harmful to pregnant and breastfeeding staff and label these clearly.
For risk assessment in KLARA, the information about the danger of your substances can be found in the product list (see picture below).
Contact:
If you have any questions contact kemikaliesakerhet@ki.se