Pregnancy At Work Guidance

INTRODUCTION

Pregnancy puts certain strains on the body that may increase the risks to an employee's health and safety. The level of risk will vary between individuals and at different times during the pregnancy. The employee's welfare, needs and her ability to carry out normal tasks may change. There may also be risks to the unborn baby from activities and agents at work.

RISK ASSESSMENT

A risk assessment must be carried out where women of childbearing age are employed if the health and safety of the pregnant woman, her unborn child or baby could be affected by her work activities. Employers must therefore review existing risk assessments that could affect the pregnant worker or complete a separate pregnancy at work assessment. The latter can be carried out using the proforma available from Croner Consulting (formerly IRPC).

THE EFFECTS OF PREGNANCY

Due to the effects of pregnancy such as morning sickness, backache, haemorrhoids, varicose veins, pain and leg cramps, increased urination, fatigue, headaches and shortness of breath, employers need to consider what action to take as the pregnancy progresses.

Pregnant workers should:

Be located away from strong smells and near to the toilets, where possible.
Preferably be engaged in work that is easy to leave and pick up at short notice.
Avoid manual handling tasks and sitting or standing for long periods of time.
Have access to rest facilities that she can use when she needs to. (It is a legal requirement for employers to provide suitable rest facilities for pregnant workers.)
Have access to a supply of drinking water, avoid caffeine, cigarette smoke, stuffy rooms, fluorescent lights.
Avoid mentally stressful situations.
Avoid excessive physical exertion, wear loose clothing (unless near to moving machinery) and work in areas with good ventilation.

Manual Handling

When undertaking manual handling risk assessments, the individual's capabilities should be taken into account. Pregnant workers are likely to find manual handling tasks more difficult and the assessment and control measures should take this into account.

Chemicals and biological agents

Certain chemicals and biological agents have damaging effects on the unborn baby. Hazardous substance risk assessments need to look at the possibility of pregnant women being exposed to such chemicals and agents, including women who are not aware that they are pregnant, and suitable control measures must be put into place to protect them and their baby. Lead has a harmful effect on the human body and can be particularly damaging to the human foetus. For this reason, employers are not allowed to employ women of reproductive capacity in certain occupations involving working with lead.

Radiation

Ionising radiation is harmful to the unborn baby at lower doses than it is to adults. If the foetus is exposed to ionising radiation, deformities can occur. The Ionising Radiation Regulations set limits to control the doses to foetuses.

If the risk to a pregnant worker cannot be controlled, the employer must:

If reasonable, alter working conditions or hours of work to avoid the risk.
If this is not possible, offer suitable alternative work.
If this is not feasible, suspend her from work on full pay.

APPENDIX A