Document 829Yej4EzgJvV32ReYp4g1Oja

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, Monday. Nov. 7, 1977 Chemical Firms Move to Protect Women From Substances That May Harm Fetuses By Gail Bronson Staff Reporter of TH* Wall STmirr Jodhhal "We're afraid that many female em NEW YORK-Chemical companies are ployes without seniority to bid on jobs, be starting to make practical or policy moves cause of the union job structure, won't be to make sure women of childbearing age able to be reassigned," he added. "As far as aren't exposed to toxic substances that could acrylamide goes, we know from previous harm a fetus. / American Cyanamid Co. already has be visits that the old facility exceeds accepta ble air levels. However, protective equip gun implementation of a policy set In Sep ment is being used by workers while the tember for some 10' U.S. plants. It states company is in the process of building a new that "women of childbearing potential shall facility that will rectify the situation.'' The not be assigned or allowed to bid on any job plant employs about 950 workers. that involves exposure" to certain toxic sub stances, explained Or. John Tobin, Cyanam- An American Cyanamid spokesman said, "the action is being taken as a sincere effort j id's associate medical director. "Women to protect employe health" and therefore have six months to bid through normal jobselection procedure on to other jobs. At six shouldn't be considers^ discriminatory. J'Evwy^fBFtf^yje taken to reassign months they will be involuntarily. wonjjffl upTeMMsaid- "There Is usu- If they don't bid. ' a turnover of the work force American Cyanl ury six-month period, so we hope there work force at these^iadts finals about U.ooo will be enough job openings. We hepe we workers, including about 400 women. The can overcome the economic factors in policy will be implemented on a plant-by volved." plant basis as it becomes feasible, so that the six-month timetable varies according to location, the company said. Although there aren't any federal health regulations regarding the fetus in the work place, federal agencies have determined safe levels exposure for workers gener ally for a number of the substances on American Cyanamid's list. Some of the sub stances are lead and mercury and their -Dow Chemical Dow Chemical Co. said it's in the process of drawing, up a policy regarding temporar ily unsafe exposure for women of childbear ing age* although "we think our plants are safe for everyone." said a spokesman! A list of less than 10 chemicals has been drawn up that Dqw found to be through literature search jmpvnjo effect the fetus. compounds: benzene; vinyl chloride; acry lamide; carbon disulfide; carbon monoxide; "We cannot rule out the possibility that carbon tetrachloride; dimethyl sulfate; an unsafe exposure might be found in the fu cyanide and others. "It's an Idea whose time has come," said Dr. Tobin, "because this isn't handled under federal regulation ... the fetus isn't recog nized as an entity." - Complaint to OSHA ture," he said. As the policy recommenda tion to management now stands, "women will be asked to temporarily leave a work area with equal pay and no loss of seniority when safe exposures can't be assured." the spokesman said. "It's under management . The company's policy was the cause of a consideration now." complaint to the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration by a United Steelworkers Union unit representing 13 women at Cyanamid's Linden, NJ._ plant The workers were told of the policy The Dow spokesman emphasized that the company wants to reserve the right in any potential hazardous cases to take precau tions to protect working women's health. Oct 18. The union subsequently requested Several other chemical companies re OSHA to test the plant's air for acrylamide portedly are working on similar health poli contamination. cies, including Union Carbide Corp., East Richard Palmierei, OSHA's area office man Kodak Co.'s chemical unit, Du Pont director, said the company had refused to Co., and Celanese Corp. However, company' give information to employes on levels of ac spokesmen said that to their knowledge,* rylamide contamination at the plant their managements weren't working on any; "The issue is why the company is listing policy designed specifically to protect the fe tins chemical when OSHA has no evidence tus or potential childbearing women in their} of related fetus problems," Mr. Palmierei plants. -{ said. "It's an emotionally charged issue. We and the union are afraid it might (the pol icy) be a trial balloon for- getting rid of women in chemical plants by the arbitrary decision of any company. However, we haven't seen the written corporate policy about Job reassignment yet ^ , BFS 005691