The following has been supplied by the TUC:

The Equal Opportunities Commission recently found that the majority of employers failed to undertake the legally required risk assessments to protect new or expectant mothers at work. Around 350,000 women continue to work during their pregnancy every year and of those, 69% return to work after giving birth.

A new TUC online guide provides a detailed and practical workers’ resource on pregnancy and risk assessments. TUC says employers must fulfill their legal obligations and protect both pregnant women and those who return to work while breast-feeding.

The regulations on new and expectant mothers at work are very important. Many hazards in the workplace can affect the health and safety of both groups and their children and therefore working conditions previously considered acceptable, may no longer be suitable when a worker is pregnant or breast-feeding.

Because pregnancy usually goes undetected for the first few weeks, employers should identify hazards and risks for all female employees of childbearing age, not only those that they know are pregnant. In addition, some hazards can present more of a risk at different stages of pregnancy.

However, controlling common workplace risks better will reduce the need for special action for these groups and a good employer will ensure the workplaces is safe for all employees, including pregnant employees, regardless of whether they know any of the workforce is pregnant.

Regional Secretary, Kevin Rowan commented, ‘The last thing that a pregnant woman needs is to be anxious about either her own health or that the health of her future baby could be made worse by working.

‘The law and common sense requires employers to take account of the special position of new and expectant mothers and to conduct a risk assessment. This should then take account of any risks where the worker may be exposed to any process, working conditions, or physical, chemical, or biological agents that could adversely affect the health and safety of the worker or their baby.

‘Risk assessments should include consideration of the risks for those who are pregnant, those who have given birth or miscarried in the last six months, or those who are breast-feeding. If any risks cannot be avoided the employers must make provision to alter the working conditions or hours of work of new or expectant mothers.

‘Not many workers, or employers, are experts on employment law and guides like the one provided free, online by the TUC, give easy to understand information on what everyone should expect from their employer and their work environment. Pregnancy is usually not considered as a health and safety issue – by staff and employers alike, but it is imperative to protect new or expectant mothers from any increased risks by adopting a sensible, yet sensitive approach; something which should be maintained for all employees whatever their circumstances.’