Throughout the years, enacted statutes and legal opinions have changed with regard to fair employment practices. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 seems to have surpassed our ability to deal with scientific knowledge to answer difficult occupational health questions. This ruling definitely puts occupational safety and health professionals in a difficult position. As non-discriminating industrial hygienists, we should ensure that the health protections offered to both male and female workers are the same. But the employer is still legally bound to provide a safe and healthful workplace, free of recognized hazards.
Industrial hygienists are duty-bound to protect all workers against reproductive injuries.
We must determine the adequacy of current occupational exposure limits in protecting personnel in the workplace and their unborn progeny from hazards, including reproductive hazards. I am sure we can accept points 1 and 2 without any further discussion. This is an important question. Nor should we have exposure standards for the office environment and others for industrial areas. The exposure standard needs to be protective for the majority of all workers.