Safe Luxury

37 + weeks and painting in office?

Next week I will be 37 weeks pregnant and they are going to be doing cosmetic work to our office (painting, tearing our carpet, etc). I can't open my windows in my office, is it safe for me to be in here while they are doing this? I don't have a choice, staying home for those 2-3 days is not an option. What can/should I do? Moving me into another office is not an option either....I just don't know what to do... There is no where else for me to work...our office is a VERY VERY old house, we don't even have a break room, I know it's crappy....my boss knows the concerns but there's not much they can do.... Tiger Lilly: There is nothing more important than my baby....I just have to have a job to pay for things...like insurance for when my baby is born....our business doesn't honor FMLA b/c we are too small, that's why I can't take 12 weeks off with my baby, just 6 un-paid weeks....

Public Comments

1. its definitely not safe to be inhaling paint fumes while pregnant, especially this far in to the pregnancy. your best bet, for your babys safety, is to take a few days off.
2. That is a tough one. I am 38 weeks along and would not want to be subjected to all those chemicals. Can you bring in an air purifier? I'm not sure it will clean all the toxins out of the air but it is something. You could ask them to use environmentally friendly paint (low VOC or VOC free). You should voice your concerns to your boss and they should make accommodations for you. But I understand things don't always work as they should. Good luck.
3. You'll have to explain to your boss how dangerous it is for your baby to be near paint fumes during pregnancy, especially at this stage. Ask if there's any way you can come in extra days before/after the painting to make up for the lost time, or ask if there's any way you can bring your work home for that duration.
4. WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT YOUR BABY OR YOUR OFFICE UPDATE, YOUR EMPLOYER SHOULD TAKE YOU BEING PREGNANT INTO CONSIDERATION AND IF NOT YOU MAY HAVE TO GO OVER THEIR HEAD, BECAUSE THAT'S A LAW SUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN! INHALING THOSE FUMES ARE HORRIBLE FOR YOU BABY AND YOU~PLEASE DON;T ALLOW THEM TO PAINT ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE IS NO VENTILATION!!!!!!
5. Is there, like, a conference room you could work in? I know you said moving to another office wasn't an option, but is there another space you could use? If all else fails, wear a mask and take frequent fresh air breaks. If your boss doesn't understand this, I don't think I'd want to work for that company.
6. I don't have a choice, staying home for those 2-3 days is not an option. What can/should I do? You answered your own question. If you're not willing to sacrifice time on the job for the health of your fetus, then why even ask on the topic? You could try a personal protection gear and/or filtration system (some sort of painting mask that is rated effective against VOCs and fumes) Although you may find it quite annoying and it would make using a phone some-what more challenging. The major concern will be the fumes from the adhesives used in carpetting, as opposed to the paint which is fairly benign (in terms of MSDS view) You should talk with your doctor and come up with a plan. If you're willing to sacrifice your child for 2-3 days of work have at it, otherwise use that FMLA act and a doctor's note to shield you from any possible negative reprocussions of your decision. There's lots of people who have healthy kids (although this is NO means an endorsement or guarantee) who spend the entire 3 trimesters working in conditions (heavy lifting, fumes, teratogenic compounds), but then again, it's really a personal ethical and moral question for you....do you want to risk....what is the return on your investment for putting up with the fumes? As a bonus, if you are consciously aware of the exposure before hand and not taking steps to mitigate your exposure, you're essentially forfeiting your rights to future litigation (intentional negligence of yourself/your fetus), so doing this just cause you want to be rich down the road is a bad plan.
7. I am pregnant and I would not be around that. Ask your doctor, that will be your best answer.