| Title: | Maternity Protection in the Laboratory |
| Implementation |  |
| Field(s) of Action: | * Flexibility, Time and Work Life |
| Objectives: | * Care and protection * Avoidance of interruption of the scientific work and career |
| Target Group(s): | Pregnant and breastfeeding female scientists |
| Description: | Maternity protection for pregnant or breastfeeding women scientists in the laboratory is an integral part of occupational health and safety and represents a special challenge from the point of view of equal opportunities. Certain risks may only apply to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. This measure ensures that all risks and stresses for pregnant women or breastfeeding women are recorded. This applies, for example, to the exposure to noise, radioactive radiation or the degree of physical strain. Certain daily exposure levels for the total duration of pregnancy must not be exceeded. In such a case, after an assessment procedure, a prohibition to work for the pregnant and breastfeeding female scientist would be imposed. The measure aims to compensate for any necessary prohibitions on pregnant and breastfeeding female scientists on their workplace in cases of risk. The purpose is to avoid an interruption of the scientific work and career. If the assessment shows that the pregnant woman herself is not allowed to carry out her research activities for health reasons, but other people are able to do it, they should take over this work. The following measures are possible: 1. Assisted research activities may be carried out by appropriate laboratory staff. 2. Special research activities may exceptionally and on a case-by-case basis be carried out by appropriate scientifically trained persons. 3. The spatial separation between hazardous areas and the workplace of the pregnant or breastfeeding female scientist. |
| More information: | Max-Planck-Gesellschaft e.V. (Germany) Contact: zgb@gv.mpg.de |
