OSHA Fined American Cyanamid for Coercing Female Workers into Sterilization in 1979
On October 11, 1979, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined the chemical company American Cyanamid $10,000 for coercing female workers into sterilization. This coercion was a condition for women to work in jobs that exposed them to lead and other hazardous chemicals at its Willow Island, West Virginia, plant. The company's policy stemmed from its definition of a fetus as a child, leading to a ban on pregnant women or women who might become pregnant from these roles. To retain their higher-paying jobs, at least five women underwent sterilization, while others transferred to lower-paying positions. The Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Unions (OCAW), led by Vice President Tony Mazzocchi, represented these women and filed a suit with OSHA. Mazzocchi condemned the 'Draconian choice' forced upon the women, arguing that companies should clean up workplaces rather than force women out. The fine was later appealed by American Cyanamid and set aside in 1981, but the outrage led to further le...
