Pregnancy and Work Exposures

Title:	Pregnancy and Work Exposures
Publication date:	4/8/2022
Effective date:	11/25/2008

BRIEF

Policy Summary

The Pregnancy and Work Exposures policy at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is used to assess and control workplace exposures for declared pregnant workers (DPWs), including:

Radiation exposure
Chemical exposure
Physical hazards

Who Should Read This Policy

All Laboratory employees who could become pregnant.

To Read the Full Policy, Go To:

The POLICY tab on this wiki page

To Read the ES&H Program Details, Go To:

Contact Information

For assistance or information on this policy, contact:
Health Services(510) 486-6266
https://ehs.lbl.gov/service/health-services/

Title:	Pregnancy and Work Exposures
Publication date:	4/8/2022
Effective date:	11/25/2008

POLICY

A. Purpose

The Pregnancy and Work Exposures policy at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is used to assess and control workplace exposures for declared pregnant workers (DPWs), including:

Radiation exposure
Chemical exposure
Physical hazards

B. Persons Affected

All Laboratory employees who could become pregnant

C. Exceptions

None

D. Policy Statement

Disclosure of pregnancy is voluntary.
When a Berkeley Lab employee self-discloses a pregnancy to the Laboratory's Health Services, that employee is asked to complete and submit a Declared Pregnant Worker (DPW) Form.
A health professional will discuss with the pregnant employee their work environment and determine whether any changes are required to protect the employee and their baby. See ES&H Manual Chapter 21 (Radiological Control Manual), Chapter 2, Part 1, Section 215.
Health Services will coordinate with an industrial hygienist, radiation professionals, or other health and safety subject matter experts to identify, assess, and control exposures in the employee's work environment.

E. Roles and Responsibilities

Role	Responsibility
Berkeley Lab Health Services	Maintains the DPW process. Coordinates with EHS subject matter experts on DPW job assessment(s).
Declared pregnant workers	Contact Berkeley Lab Health Services when willing to disclose pregnancy. Complete the DPW Form as requested by Health Services. Provide information about job tasks to the EH&S professional conducting the exposure assessment. Follow all controls provided by EH&S for exposure control.
Berkeley Lab EH&S Subject Matter Expert(s)	Identify exposure potentials for DPWs. Assess level of potential hazards for DPWs. Determine control measures. Track implementation and effectiveness of control measures.

F. Definitions/Acronyms

See ES&H Manual Chapter 3 for technical terms related to the details of this policy and its implementation.

Term	Definition
DPW	Declared pregnant worker

G. Recordkeeping Requirements

Health Services – Declared Pregnant Worker forms

H. Implementing Documents

Document Number	ES&H Manual Reference	Title	Type
07.05.003.001	Chapter 3, Section 3.14	Pregnancy	Procedure
07.05.003.002	Radiological Control Manual Chapter 2, Part 1, Section 215	Declared Pregnant Radiation Workers	Procedure
07.07.005.001	Chapter 4, Work Process A	Exposure Assessment	Procedure

I. Contact Information