Key points
- There are things you can do to protect yourself from reproductive health hazards at work.
- Ask your employer questions about hazards in your workplace and how to keep yourself safe.
- Protect yourself from exposure to hazards at work and avoid bringing them home.
- Talk to your doctor or request help from NIOSH to learn more about how to keep yourself safe and healthy.
Ask questions
Legally, you have the right to receive information on hazards in your workplace and receive training on how to stay safe.
Talk to your employer or your company's safety officer about the types of hazards for your specific job tasks. You can ask them how you can stay safe while doing your job.
Your company may have done testing to identify workplace hazards (e.g., measuring chemicals in the air). If so, your employer is required to give you a copy of the results if you ask for them.
If you work with chemicals, your employer should have Safety Data Sheets. These are also called Material Safety Data Sheets or (MSDS). These are available for all employees to read.
The NIOSH website has information about some common workplace hazards and resources for further information. If you need additional information, you can talk to your employer, a health care provider, or you can ask specific questions through CDC-INFO.
Learn about your rights as a worker under OSHA.
Learn about protections for pregnant and breastfeeding workers from the Department of Labor.
Protect yourself from exposure
Use personal protective equipment (PPE)
Use employer-provided PPE (such as gloves, hearing protection, or a respirator) consistently and correctly. Remember to check your PPE before using it to make sure it is functioning properly. Talk to your employer or safety officer if you have questions about how to use your PPE. Learn more about PPE use and reproductive health.
Follow best safety/health practices
Learn about best work practices for health and safety, like always keeping chemicals in sealed containers when not in use. Follow any safe work guidelines or protocols in your workplace, even if your tasks take a little longer. If your employer offers health and safety training, take part. You can also find more information on workplace health and safety topics from NIOSH.
Wash it off
If your work involves coming into contact with chemicals, avoid skin contact. Always remember to wash your hands before eating and before leaving work.
Protect your home and family
Are you accidentally bringing work hazards home with you? Chemicals can come home on your skin, hair, clothes, and shoes, and they can contaminate your car and home. You can keep a healthy car and home by:
- Changing clothes and showering before leaving work
- Keeping work clothes out of the living areas of the house
- Washing work clothes in separate loads from the family's clothes
Learn more about protecting your home and family.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional
Not all doctors or healthcare professionals remember to ask about your job. If you are concerned about hazards in your workplace, tell your doctor:
- What kind of work you do
- What kinds of hazards are in your workplace
- If there is anything specific that you are worried about
- If there is anything specific that you have questions about
Ask your healthcare professional about avoiding hazards while trying to conceive, or while you or your partner is pregnant or breastfeeding.
Request a Health Hazard Evaluation
If you think your job is affecting your health or the health of your family, NIOSH can help. The Health Hazard Evaluation Program helps employees, unions, and employers learn whether health hazards are present at their workplace and recommends ways to reduce hazards and prevent work-related illness.
Learn more about NIOSH's Health Hazard Evaluations.