Occupational safety in the embryology laboratory

Abstract Purpose To analyse the occupational safety measures used by clinical embryologists and their relationship with conditions in the workplace. Methods An online questionnaire was designed to gather demographic and occupational information, together with safety and ergonomics in the workplace and was sent to all the embryologists that are members of the Association for the Study of Biology of Reproduction (ASEBIR). Results It was found that 11.2% of embryologists never wear gloves when handling semen, and 19.6% never wore them while working with follicular fluid. In addition, 30% rarely or never use protection when working with liquid nitrogen. Between 23.3% and 47.5% believe their working conditions are not comfortable. Logistic regression analysis showed that embryologists working in small laboratories (fewer than five people) and those who considered ventilation to be inadequate are less likely to wear gloves while handling follicular fluid. On the other hand, those with less than ten years of experience and those who considered the laboratory ventilation to be inadequate are less likely to wear gloves while working with liquid nitrogen. Embryologists working in large laboratories receive more training in safety in the workplace. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that the provision of workplace safety measures in embryology laboratories is related to perceptions of risk, the characteristics of the work, the level of embryologist experience, the size of the laboratory, and the working conditions.