Occupational Hazards and Reproductive Health

25th – 27th of April 2023
Quality Hotel The Mill, Malmö, Sweden

About this course

Most inhabitants of reproductive age has worked for many years before pursuing pregnancy, and the majority of women continue to work throughout pregnancy in the Nordic countries. Still, we know little about the work environment relative to reproductive function, and occupational factors do not receive much attention compared to e.g. chemicals in consumer products and in the outer environment.

This course aims to update knowledge on occupational reproductive health hazards required for understanding and preventing risks to pregnancy and fertility, as well as providing insight into the needs for further study within this field.

The course will focus on chemical, physical, ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors, the assessment, identification and management of occupational risks to reproductive health, interpretation and use of epidemiological and experimental research data in risk assessment, and where to find information. Risk communication and legislation and policies to protect workers’ reproductive health will also be addressed, and we will discuss factors that predict absence from work.

Price information

The price of the course consists of the course fee of EUR 500
and the day package of choice.

Day package I

This package includes:

conference facilities and technical equipment
course material
coffees, lunches
dinners and the social program on Wednesday.

We strongly encourage you to take part in the social program, as this is a vital part of the NIVA course experience. We believe in the power of networking and strive to create an inspiring possibility for that through the social program.

The total price of the course is EUR 910 (course fee EUR 500 + day package fee I EUR 410).

EUR 910

Day package II

This package includes:

conference facilities and technical equipment
course material
coffees, lunches

Kindly note that the day package II does not include dinners nor the social program.

The total price of the course is EUR 730 (course fee EUR 500 + day package fee II EUR 230).

EUR 730

Accommodation

25th – 27th of April 2023 at Quality Hotel The Mill, Malmö, Sweden.

NIVA has made a block reservation for the accommodation 25-27 of April 2023 at Quality Hotel The Mill.

To book a room from the block reservation kindly contact the hotel directly by email at q.themill@choice.se. Please refer to booking number 2033GR004862 when booking the room (available until 28.3.2023).

The room price for a single standard room is EUR 120/night (including breakfast).

The block reservation will be available until the 28th of March 2023.

EUR 120 / night

Course objectives

Main topics

Definition of reproductive outcomes
Occupational reproductive hazards (chemical, physical, ergonomic and psychosocial)
Reading scientific papers within epidemiology as basis for risk identification
How to extrapolate reproductive animal studies to humans
How to search information on chemical reproductive toxicants
Legislation and policies to protect workers’ reproductive health
Adjustment of work relative to identified risk factors

Course program

Target groups

Occupational health and safety professionals, occupational physicians, researchers and PhD-students, prevention personnel.

Subject background

Reproductive health receives much attention in the general population, especially relative to conditions that may impact negatively on fertility and pregnancy. Even if most inhabitants of reproductive age hold a job in the Nordic countries, we know little about the work environment relative to reproductive function and the topic does not receive much attention by the work authorities.

We know that some chemical exposures may interfere with fertility, pregnancy and fetal life – but for several groups of chemicals, knowledge is rudimentary. For, e.g., psychosocial stress, noise in the work setting and work outside normal business hours evidence is beginning to emerge. Furthermore, the little existing knowledge relates mainly to pregnancy and malformations – and not the maybe more sensitive function of the offspring’s organs later in life (e.g., of the metabolic, immune, cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive systems). Furthermore, the emerging discipline of epigenetic programming indicates that exposures in pregnancy (and fathers to be) may affect not only the unborn child, but maybe also the grandchildren and future generations. This challenges the existing paradigm of exposures and direct effects.

It is important to:

Educate work professionals to enable identification, assessment and prevention of risks to reproductive health in the occupational setting.
Stimulate interest in prevention and research within this field.

General course fee and cancellation information

The courses and workshops vary in price. Please note that the course fee does not cover meals or accommodation. The course fee and day-package fee are invoiced after the registration deadline.

Travel arrangements

Please refrain from booking any tickets until we have confirmed the course. The confirmation, which will be sent after the registration deadline, will include detailed information on the payment of the course fee and day-packages, as well as information on accommodation options and practical arrangements.

Please note that you are not insured by NIVA.