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New & Expectant Mothers H&S Policy
New & Expectant Mothers H&S Policy
New & Expectant Mothers H&S Policy
360 Recruitment – New & Expectant Mothers H&S Policy
360Rec-22 | 2023-2025
Introduction The Organisation has a duty under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to assess the risks to staff and other arising from its work activities. There is a specific duty to take particular account of risks to new and expectant mothers when assessing risks. Where the risks cannot be avoided by prevention and protective measures, the Organisation must either alter their working conditions or hours of work, offer suitable alternative work or suspend them from work on full pay.
The Health and Safety Executive has published a Code of Practice providing advice to employers on how to comply fully with these requirements, including the measures to ensure that women who are breastfeeding at work are not exposed to risks.
The following procedure sets out the known risks to new and expectant mothers and how the Health and Safety Executive Code of Practice is applied within the Organisation. The Procedure has been agreed as part of the Health and Safety Policy and it should be referred to in conjunction with the Occupational Health Strategy and individual Departmental Procedures.
Definitions
“New or expectant mother” means an employee who is pregnant; who has given birth within the previous six months; or who is breastfeeding.
Risk Assessment
A risk assessment involves identification of the risks, how they arise and how they impact on those affected whether staff, students, and visitors. This information is used to make decisions on how to manage those risks in an informed, rational and structured manner, and the action taken is proportionate. The risk assessment will involve identifying the hazards present in any working environment, and evaluating the extent of the risks arising from these, taking into account existing precautions and their effectiveness. Under the regulations the risk assessment must address the risk to women of child bearing age where:
“the work is of a kind which could involve risk, by reason of her condition, to the health and safety of a new or expectant mother, or that of her baby, from any processes or working conditions, or physical, biological or chemical agents”,
and that these must also consider:
“measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding”
If it is not possible to take action to ensure that the employee is not exposed to the identified risks, consideration must be given to altering her working conditions or hours of work.
If it is not reasonably practicable to alter the working conditions or hours of work, or if such alteration would not avoid the identified risks, the member of staff will be suspended from work on full pay, for so long as is necessary to avoid the risks.
Procedure
As the employer, we are responsible for carrying out the specific risk assessments for new and expectant mothers. The risk assessment will be kept under review and there will be a further assessment on return to work following giving birth; this may involve collaboration with Head of Departments, Human Resources, and line manager(s) as appropriate.
The risk assessments will be undertaken using the following forms included as Appendices 1.1. to 1.4. - Pregnancy at Work Assessment Initial Questionnaire, Pregnancy at Work Risk Assessment, Pregnancy at Work Assessment Review and Pregnancy at Work Return to Work Assessment. Information contained within the Initial Questionnaire will be confidential to the Occupational Health Department.
Staff should inform their Head of Department and/or line manager and Head of Human Resources at the earliest possible time. It is acknowledged that staff may wish the information to be treated in confidence and this will be respected within the remit of the respective Departments.
Hazards and Risk Control Measures
The following areas are identified in the Regulations as presenting potential risks to new or expectant mothers.
•Working Conditions
•Chemical Agents
•Physical Agents
•Biological Agents
Detailed guidance on the potential hazards and control of the risks associated with them are outlined in the attached Appendix 2.
Please contact Greg Tyler (Director) for copies of Appendix 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and 2.
360 Recruitment – New & Expectant Mothers H&S Policy
360Rec-22 | 2023-2025
Introduction The Organisation has a duty under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to assess the risks to staff and other arising from its work activities. There is a specific duty to take particular account of risks to new and expectant mothers when assessing risks. Where the risks cannot be avoided by prevention and protective measures, the Organisation must either alter their working conditions or hours of work, offer suitable alternative work or suspend them from work on full pay.
The Health and Safety Executive has published a Code of Practice providing advice to employers on how to comply fully with these requirements, including the measures to ensure that women who are breastfeeding at work are not exposed to risks.
The following procedure sets out the known risks to new and expectant mothers and how the Health and Safety Executive Code of Practice is applied within the Organisation. The Procedure has been agreed as part of the Health and Safety Policy and it should be referred to in conjunction with the Occupational Health Strategy and individual Departmental Procedures.
Definitions
“New or expectant mother” means an employee who is pregnant; who has given birth within the previous six months; or who is breastfeeding.
Risk Assessment
A risk assessment involves identification of the risks, how they arise and how they impact on those affected whether staff, students, and visitors. This information is used to make decisions on how to manage those risks in an informed, rational and structured manner, and the action taken is proportionate. The risk assessment will involve identifying the hazards present in any working environment, and evaluating the extent of the risks arising from these, taking into account existing precautions and their effectiveness. Under the regulations the risk assessment must address the risk to women of child bearing age where:
“the work is of a kind which could involve risk, by reason of her condition, to the health and safety of a new or expectant mother, or that of her baby, from any processes or working conditions, or physical, biological or chemical agents”,
and that these must also consider:
“measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding”
If it is not possible to take action to ensure that the employee is not exposed to the identified risks, consideration must be given to altering her working conditions or hours of work.
If it is not reasonably practicable to alter the working conditions or hours of work, or if such alteration would not avoid the identified risks, the member of staff will be suspended from work on full pay, for so long as is necessary to avoid the risks.
Procedure
As the employer, we are responsible for carrying out the specific risk assessments for new and expectant mothers. The risk assessment will be kept under review and there will be a further assessment on return to work following giving birth; this may involve collaboration with Head of Departments, Human Resources, and line manager(s) as appropriate.
The risk assessments will be undertaken using the following forms included as Appendices 1.1. to 1.4. - Pregnancy at Work Assessment Initial Questionnaire, Pregnancy at Work Risk Assessment, Pregnancy at Work Assessment Review and Pregnancy at Work Return to Work Assessment. Information contained within the Initial Questionnaire will be confidential to the Occupational Health Department.
Staff should inform their Head of Department and/or line manager and Head of Human Resources at the earliest possible time. It is acknowledged that staff may wish the information to be treated in confidence and this will be respected within the remit of the respective Departments.
Hazards and Risk Control Measures
The following areas are identified in the Regulations as presenting potential risks to new or expectant mothers.
•Working Conditions
•Chemical Agents
•Physical Agents
•Biological Agents
Detailed guidance on the potential hazards and control of the risks associated with them are outlined in the attached Appendix 2.
Please contact Greg Tyler (Director) for copies of Appendix 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and 2.
