Employment policies which prohibit, or regulate, the hiring of fertile females are controversial in today's world. These policies have come under fire as our society has attempted to address the employment inequities which female workers have been forced to endure and overcome. This paper will explore the biological demands of the pregnant worker, the potential development problems of the embryo/fetus within the working mother, and the legal dilemma of civil tort vs. worker's compensation for damages. Also discussed, within the framework of current knowledge regarding mutagenic/teratogenic effects of workplace hazards, are the inconsistent policies between male-dominated and female-dominated industries.
References
1.
EbertF. (1982, July). A method of monitoring reproductive outcomes for workplace hazards. Occupational Health Nursing, 30(7), 17–18.
2.
Federal Register. (1980, February 1). 45, no. 23, 7514.
3.
GrayH. (1977). Gray's anatomy. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc.
4.
HrickoA.BruntM. (1976). Working for your life. Berkeley, CA: Labor Occupational Health Program.
5.
HuntV. (1975). The health of women at work. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Program on Women, Occupational Papers.
6.
LaDouJ. (1981). Occupational health law: A guide for industry. New York: Marcel Dekker.
7.
MullerV. Oregon, 208US 412 (1908).
8.
OSHRC Commissioners focus on five pivotal enforcement issues. (1981, October) Occupational Hazards, 43(118), 115–559.
9.
StellmanJ.PolaL. (1977). Women's work women's health, myths and realities. New York: Pantheon books.
10.
StrassonA.L. (1982). Setting guidelines for the pregnant worker's care. Occupational Health and Safety, 51(7), 13.
11.
TurnerV.Board of Review, Department of Employment Security. Utah Supreme Court. 531 P. 2nd 870 (1975).
