Template 4 Risk Assessment

Template 4

NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

RISK ASSESSMENT FOR

NEW AND EXPECTANT MOTHERS AT WORKpa

SUMMARY

This procedure covers the health and safety of new and expectant mothers, while they are at work. It directs staff and managers as to what needs to be carried out to safeguard all concerned.

STATUTORY BASE AND GUIDANCE

2.The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

New expectant mothers at work “A guide for employers” HSG122.

CONTACTS

3.Health and Safety Risk Management Services (Manager and Adviser)

Health and Wellbeing Services

CONTENTS

4.General duties

Risk Assessment

Protective measures/Night work

Employers role

Absence on Health and Safety grounds

Form – Personal Risk Assessment (NEM.RA)

Flow Chart – Action checks

Hazards and Risks overview

Aspects affecting work

Risk Assessment – see Flow Chart

Introduction

1.Pregnancy should not be equated with ill health. Any health and safety implications can be adequately addressed by health and safety management procedures.

2.Many women work during their pregnancy and many return to work while they are still breast feeding. Managers need to recognise that some hazards in the workplace may affect the health and safety of new and expectant mothers and of their children.

Employers Duties

3.The law at present requires the County Council to assess risks to all employees, including new and expectant mothers, and to do what is reasonably practicable to control and minimise those risks.

4.The management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations specifically requires employers to take particular account of risks to new and expectant mothers when assessing risks within their work activities.

5.The Regulations are a health and safety requirement once the employer has been informed, in writing by the worker, that she is pregnant.

6.The worker is also required to provide the employer with a certificate from a registered medical practitioner, or a registered midwife, confirming the pregnancy.

7.In assessing risks to new and expectant mothers at work, it is necessary to take action to ensure that they are not exposed to any significant risk. Risks include those to the unborn child, or child of a woman who is still breast feeding – not just risks to the mother herself.

8.Risk assessments should be carried out as a general preventative measure, i.e. female employees of child bearing capacity should be advised about potential risks if they are, or could in the future be pregnant or breast feeding. The manager should also explain what they will do to make sure that new and expectant mothers are not exposed to the risks that could cause them harm.

9.For each workplace/work environment a General Risk Assessment needs to take place in relation to anybody who may be a new or expectant mother. This General Risk Assessment must be displayed at work at all times. See examples at Appendix 3 and 4.

10.A personal risk assessment should also be carried out in cases where information of the pregnancy has been given. Where a significant risk to the health and safety of a new or expectant mother has been identified, the manager needs to decide what action to take. Complete the general risk assessment form.

Protective Measures

11.If unacceptable risk to the employee cannot be avoided through protective or preventative measures, it may be necessary to consider whether it would be reasonable to make changes as follows:-

If reasonable to do so, alter working conditions or hours of work.

If it is not reasonable to make such alterations, or if the risk cannot be avoided in this way, offer suitable alternative employment. Suitable alternative employment means work which is both suitable in relation to the employee concerned and appropriate for her to do in the circumstances and on existing terms and conditions, or terms and conditions which are not substantially less favourable.

If suitable alternative work is not available, the employee should be granted authorised absence from duties. This means that the employee will be entitled to paid leave (where suitable alternative work is available, but refused by the employee, the employee will be allowed to take unpaid leave).

These actions are only necessary where, as the result of a risk assessment, there is genuine concern. If there is any doubt, the manager should seek guidance from the Health and Safety Risk Manager.

Employees doing night work

12.Special considerations need to be given to new and expectant mothers who work at night. The Regulations require that an employee who is new or an expectant mother has a medical certificate stating that night work could affect her health or safety, the employer must either:-

(a)Offer the employee suitable alternative daytime work, if this is available.

(b)If (a) is not a reasonable option, grant authorised absence to the employee from work on paid leave for as long as is necessary, to protect her health or safety.

The employer is required to take these actions only if the risk arises from work.

Responsibilities of the Employee

13.In order to protect her own health and safety and that of her unborn child, it is important that the line manager is informed at the earliest possible date that when an employee becomes pregnant. Whilst at work during the pregnancy, the employee should follow any health and safety guidelines and report any concerns arising from work/work practices.

Authorised Absence on Health and Safety Grounds

14.It should be noted that pregnancy creates biological changes in the body. Particular duties, such as manual handling, moving and transferring may present, during pregnancy, an increased risk of injury. If a job presents risks the employee can be granted authorised absence, on health and safety grounds, for periods both before and after childbirth.

Further details can be found on the Staff Information section of the NYCC Intranet under:

Maternity Scheme

Employees Guidance Notes.

Hazards, Risks and ways of avoiding them

15.Physical, chemical and biological agents and working conditions, the risks/how to avoid the risks are listed in Appendix 1 to this procedure.

16.Other aspects of pregnancy that may affect work are listed in Appendix 2.

Further information

-Visit the Health and Safety Executive website at

-The above apply to all workers – special consideration for “Home workers” and sessional workers is required to take account of their specific workplace which may be variable; when undertaking the General Risk Assessment.

CHECKLIST FOR RISK ASSESSMENT FOR NEWAND EXPECTANT MOTHERS

1

payleaveandbenefits/maternity/toolkit/20/08/09

ASPECTS OF PREGNANCY THAT MAY AFFECT WORK

There are aspects of pregnancy that may affect work. The impact will vary during the course of the pregnancy and you will want to keep their effects under review, for example, the posture of expectant mothers changes to cope with increasing size.

GUIDELINES FOR COMPLETION OF PERSONAL RISK ASSESSMENT

General Risk Assessment completed/reviewed refer to:

General Risk Assessment

Hazard Identified refer to:

Hazard and Risks

Aspects of Pregnancy

General Risk Assessment

Comments/Further Preventative Measures Refer to:

Hazards and Risks

Aspects of Pregnancy

NYCC Health and Safety, Procedure 7 – New and Expectant Mothers at Work, Item 11, Protective Measures

Date Assessed

Assessment should take place on notification, before 28 weeks and in the first week of return to work. However, it is recommended that ongoing observation and further assessment should be undertaken as required.

ACTION PLAN

1

payleaveandbenefits/maternity/toolkit/20/08/09