NEW & EXPECTANT MOTHERS RISK ASSESSMENT

A ‘new or expectant mother’ is a woman who is pregnant, has given birth within the preceding six months or is breastfeeding.  Pregnancy is not an illness and the majority of women remain well throughout their pregnancy.  However, some hazards in the workplace may affect the health and safety of new and expectant mothers and of their child(ren). Therefore, working conditions normally considered acceptable may no longer be so during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.  

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require suitable and sufficient risk assessments to protect the health and safety of employees, including new and expectant mothers and to do what is practicable to control those risks. This applies to all employers of any size. 

www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hsc13.htm

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 also require employers to provide adequate welfare facilities for new or expectant mothers.

www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l24.pdf

Employers have a legal responsibility to protect their female employees from hazards and risks in the workplace and to assess risks to new and expectant mothers.   It is therefore prudent for employers to identify hazards and risks for all female employees of childbearing age. They should also consider that some hazards can present more of a risk at different stages of the pregnancy. 

Should you need any assistance with this, Citi Health can provide a report to ensure your employee’s work environment is a safe place to be.

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