Maternity Leave Health and Safety Considerations

Health & safety considerations during pregnancy

The law requires employers such as the University to assess the risks to all employees that arise from their work, and to do all that is reasonably practicable to avoid or control those risks. In addition it requires that special attention is given to identifying and controlling risks that may affect women who are pregnant, who have given birth in the previous six months or who are breastfeeding. Departments must therefore carry out a specific individual assessment for the work of any individuals within the Department who have indicated that they are pregnant to ensure that they are no put at risk during and immediately after their pregnancy. Particular attention should be paid to the actual tasks that they have to perform during their work to ensure that any risks associated with these are adequately controlled. The individual assessment should be regarded as an ongoing process throughout the course of the pregnancy as the capabilities of the person involved may be significantly reduced as the pregnancy progresses. (e.g. manual handling). The nature of the tasks they are required to do should be temporarily modified accordingly.

Guidance on the occupational health aspects of pregnancy can be found on the Safety & Environmental Protection Service website (see www.gla.ac.uk/services/seps/occupationalhealth/pregnancy.html).

More detailed information is contained in the Health & Safety Executive leaflet ' A guide for new and expectant mothers who work' (see www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg373.pdf ). Advice can be obtained by contacting SEPS and the University Health Service.