Authors
MacDonald-LA; Waters-TR; Napolitano-PG; Goddard-DE; Ryan-MA; Nielsen-P; Hudock-SD
Source
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2013 Mar; :[Epub ahead of print]
Abstract
Empirically-based lifting criteria established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to reduce risk of overexertion injuries in the general U.S. working population were evaluated for application to pregnant workers. This report proposes criteria to guide decisions by medical providers about permissible weights for lifting tasks performed at work over the course of an uncomplicated pregnancy. Our evaluation included an extensive review of the literature linking occupational lifting to maternal and fetal health. Although it has been 29 years since the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Council on Scientific Affairs published its report on the Effects of Pregnancy on Work Performance, these guidelines continue to influence clinical decisions and workplace policies. Provisional clinical guidelines derived from the NIOSH lifting criteria are presented that account for recent evidence for maternal and fetal health, and aim to improve the standard of care for pregnant workers.
Keywords
Pregnancy; Workers; Work-capability; Worker-health; Work-environment; Physiology; Physiological-factors; Weight-factors; Fetus; Health-protection; Exposure-levels; Exposure-limits; Work-performance; Work-practices;
Author Keywords: lifting; occupational hazard; pregnancy; recommendations
Contact
Leslie MacDonald, Sc.D., National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS R-15, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
lmacdonald@cdc.gov
NIOSH Division
DSHEFS; DART
Source Name
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology