Absolute Health and Safety Solutions Ltd - New mothers and pregnant women in the workplace

If you have new or expectant mothers on your payroll, the law states that you have certain very specific health and safety obligations towards them. Do you know what they are, and are you meeting them? Health and safety is always important but, arguably, never more so than for pregnant workers. A breach of health and safety in their case could have doubly tragic results. Breach of the health and safety statute resulting in injury or illness to mother or unborn child can also result in civil proceedings against the employer, as well as prosecution from the HSE.

Employers’ legal duties towards pregnant workers begin when they are informed in writing of the pregnancy. A risk assessment must then be carried out which must extend throughout the pregnancy and into any period of breast-feeding.

The risk assessment doesn’t need to be incredibly detailed nor does it have to take a long time to put together. Absolute Health and Safety Solutions Ltd have developed dedicated risk assessments for employers with pregnant workers or new mothers in the workplace. For women in regular, office-based jobs, a standardised risk assessment can be carried out. If the woman will be working under unusual circumstances (working with chemicals or animals, or carrying out night-work for instance), then there are increased risks which must be managed.

Every SME should have a policy in place for looking after pregnant workers and new mothers. It is critically important for employers to recognise there are specific requirements for new and expectant mothers in the workplace and just as important for companies to communicate their health and safety strategies to all female employees of child bearing age. Absolute Health and Safety Solutions Ltd can give you guidance, helping you put the necessary risk management steps in place. It’s a simple but important piece of health and safety which every employer must address.

www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg373.pdf

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[ New mothers and pregnant women in the workplace ]