I manage a dental practice, one of my assistants is pregnant, her duties includes 3 days of back office which?
includes cleaning with chemicals and taking digital x-rays (light radiation). I do have her doing 2 days of front office work. She has approached me and expressed concern about taking xrays and using chemicals, given this, it appears I will have to hire another person to take her 3 days, I will keep her two days working in the front and cut her 3 days working in the back since she feels it’s not safe. How do I appraoch this legally? We are in California.
If your office is set up to code, she should not be getting any radiation at all from the x-rays. She should be able to continue that, the chemicals I am not sure about however. I would research this and if it is proven that it is indeed safe for pregnant women (with proper precautions) then she should expect to get paid only for the days she is up front, because it it her simply not wanting to be around them. If however it is recommended she not be around chemicals I am not sure how you stop paying her legally. I would contact the state board of health and try to get answers.
If your office is set up to code, she should not be getting any radiation at all from the x-rays. She should be able to continue that, the chemicals I am not sure about however. I would research this and if it is proven that it is indeed safe for pregnant women (with proper precautions) then she should expect to get paid only for the days she is up front, because it it her simply not wanting to be around them. If however it is recommended she not be around chemicals I am not sure how you stop paying her legally. I would contact the state board of health and try to get answers.
References :
Dental hygienist