posted about 8 months ago
Quote From pm133:
There will be risks to your baby if you continue working in a lab-based environment.
There MAY be measurable risks!
Quote From newlease36:
i It is definitely illegal to make someone work in conditions that would adversely affect their health.
It is illegal to make anyone work in any conditions- that is slavery!!
Quote From newlease36:
but in the case you had no rights (which you do) and you could be forced to work in an environment that would adversely affect your child's health... would you still do it????
Like I honestly don't what your asking here? should I continue to work in environment that has the potential to harm my unborn child? not a difficult question to answer.
This hyperbole is unhelpful- everything job has potential risks, and individuals need to weigh up risks (once they have been reduced as far as possible) for themselves based on their individual values and circumstances. The employer/ university has a role in this as well. For example, an individual who had had recurrent miscarriages may view any risk as unacceptable (even if viewed as reasonable by others).
The sensible (and measured advice) advice is:
You need to ask for the Health and safety risk assessment. You need to flag your pregnancy health and safety adviser and seek advice.
No work place is without risk and there will always be unknown risks- key thing is about recognising known risks, and controlling them.
I doubt the supervisor is recklessly endangering the OP!
I doubt the OP is the first person in the lab to get pregnant- a risk assessment may have been done last time which identified that use of chemicals under a hood was acceptable.
