Informing employees capable of giving birth about employment restrictions and possible risks for expectant or breastfeeding mothers
In accordance with § 10 of the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG), BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg must assess the type, extent and duration of the hazards to which a pregnant or breastfeeding woman or her child is or may be exposed and, taking into account the result of the general/occasion-independent risk assessment, determine whether
- no protective measures will be necessary,
- a reorganisation of the working conditions is necessary or
- it will not be possible for the woman to continue working at this workplace.
The general/occasion-independent risk assessment must be carried out and documented in every area. Use this form for this purpose.
Expectant or breastfeeding mothers may not be employed in work where the assessment has shown that the safety or health of the mother or child is jeopardised by hazardous chemical substances, biological agents, physical agents, stressful working conditions, physical stress or mechanical effects, psychological stress or working conditions (§§ 11 and 12 MuSchG).
This letter informs you that, with immediate effect, you may not have any professional contact with children or carry out any activities in which you come into contact with potentially infectious material (such as blood, bodily secretions, etc.) until you can provide medical proof of your immune protection with regard to pregnancy-related infectious diseases.
Furthermore, you must not come into contact with hazardous substances that have mutagenic, carcinogenic and/or teratogenic properties. Carcinogenic and teratogenic substances are specially labelled in TRGS 900 "Occupational exposure limits". TRGS 905 contains a list of carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances. In accordance with the CLP Regulation (Regulation (EC) 1272/2008/), these hazardous substances are labelled with the pictogram "Health hazard", the signal words "Danger" or "Warning" and the following H-phrases:
| H-record | Explanation |
|---|---|
| H340 | May cause genetic defects. |
| H341 | Suspected of causing genetic defects. |
| H350 | May cause cancer. |
| H350i | May cause cancer by inhalation. |
| H351 | Suspected of causing cancer. |
| H360 | May damage fertility or the unborn child. |
| H360F | May damage fertility. |
| H360D | May damage the unborn child. |
| H360FD | May damage fertility. May damage the unborn child. |
| H360Fd | May damage fertility. Suspected of damaging the unborn child. |
| H360Df | May damage the unborn child. Suspected of damaging fertility. |
| H361 | Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child. |
| H361f | Suspected of damaging fertility. |
| H361d | Suspected of damaging the unborn child |
| H361fd | Suspected of damaging fertility. Suspected of damaging the unborn child. |
| H362 | May cause harm to breastfed babies. |
The same applies to new substances if the above-mentioned effects are to be expected on the basis of corresponding assessments.
The central register of hazardous substances at BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg provides information on whether you may come into contact with these substances. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are not permitted to work in rooms labelled with this symbol in the GK.BTU.
For the protection of mother and child, please refer to the enclosed form for individual risk assessment. During pregnancy and the breastfeeding period, your activities must be adapted in accordance with the protection to be afforded to you and your child.
Please complete the form together with your line manager, have it assessed and signed by him/her and return it to the VB1 Personnel department. On the basis of the final assessment, the form for the mandatory notification to the responsible labour protection authority (§ 27 MuSchG) can be sufficiently completed.
BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg is obliged to offer expectant or breastfeeding mothers a meeting to discuss further adjustments to their working conditions. If you would like this, please speak to your line manager.
You can find further information in the guide to maternity protection, information for pregnant and breastfeeding women from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ).