Business

Corporations utilizing toxic substances in the workplace, such as in this case, are faced with the possibility that the use of those substances will cause reproductive damage in their employees. In the face of complex and confusing government regulation on the issue and scientific uncertainty about the effects of many substances, the corporation has sought to minimize legal liability for any potential reproductive damage by excluding the fertile female worker from the workplace. Yet, by adopting such “fetal protection” policies, corporations have opened themselves up to host of new problems and threatened the rights of workers. American Cyanamid Company is facing the same kind of problems. Basically, as this new plant, which represents an important source of employment to an industrially depressed area, at the same time puts at risk the health of women basically their fertility. First, this is a case that deals with discrimination issues. The plant, at its beginning did not have any women working for the company, whereas later on in 1977, 23 women were working on production lines at Willow Island. Legislative activity in the 70’s forced companies to become increasingly alert to the hazards of female exposure to fetotoxins, any substances especially hazardous to fetuses. While supposing to establish the right exposure levels, the company considered it safe for a healthy adult and for a developing fetus. After the OSHA inspections, it was found that Cyanamid was not being very true to its employees. Basically if a woman of child bearing age was sterile she was allowed to work. The other ones pretended that they were supposed to undergo surgery in order to work, otherwise they would rather loosed their job or work at lower levels with lower wages.

Cyanamid, after being accused for pushing women to sterilization, contented that it absolutely discouraged any surgery to preclude childbearing potential. If these women were to be sterile they would work in the company....