Posted By Neville The armed forces lost their Crown Exemption some years ago now Charley and the fact that your daughter has become pregnant, does not in any way absolve her employer, the RAF, from their health and safety responsibilies towards their employees - as much as they would like to think so! The RAF, like all other organisations, has a duty of care to your daughter in so much as they must safeguard her and her unborn child. It is not her responsibility to write her own risk assessment, but that of her line manager or appointed person. There are specific exclusions from H&S Law for the armed forces, ie Operational circumstances, but pregnancy is not included within those exclusions. A full and proper RA must be completed, within the criteria of the work she is expected to undertake, and she must have the situation reviewed also. If she currently works on night shift, then they must place her onto a day shift, to safeguard her proper sleep and diet etc. Either way, she must be interviewed and told of the findings of the RA. I myself served in the RAF and remember fulfilling the role of the employer by writing such a risk assessment for one of the squadron's personnel. She worked on a shift pattern, including night shifts, and did not take kindly to her employer safeguarding her interests by placing her on days shift only. If I were you, it may be worth dropping a line to her employer/commanding officer, reminding them of their responsibilities. Hope this helps with your plight and that of your daughter Regards, Neville

Posted By Peter J Harvey Charles, From experience this is not the way the RAF work. I would suggest that you daughter, first of all talks this through with her boss (SNCO/Flight Commander etc). If however she has a problem understanding how her chain of command is required to react in this situation, she should refer this to the Unit Health and Safety Officer, or Station Health and Safety Advisor, depending where she is stationed. Thinking back, details should be set out in Station Standing Orders. From my own time in the RAF, we used a simple question and answer format, which a Flight Commander/Sqd Leader would complete with the employee. Based on the information give, this may be referred further, however would be reviewed throughout the pregnancy. Hope this helps.

Posted By Clive Cox Charles, After spending 30 years in the RAF and carrying out 100's of risk assessments I can assure you that is not your daughters responsibility to carry out her own assessment for pregnancy; the duty firmly falls on the employer, it is however quite likely that your daughter may be asked to participate in providing some information for the assessment. If she is experiencing problems within the Section or Squadron that she works she should seek advise from the Station Health and Safety Officer, who in most cases is a civilian. Wish her luck Chief Technician Retired

Posted By John Redfern Charley, The MOD H&S Policy is available on the web and Volume 1 clearly states the requirement for line managers to undertake a risk assessment for new mand expectant mothers. I can forward the specific document directly if required. Redders

Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney Oh dear, as this was a passionate request as opposed to the usual business manner, I suppose an emotive statement such as 'fallen' does conjure up a picture, last I heard was when little one received the news she fainted! I suppose therefore one must assume that as she fell, she realised she was with child, hey, it's the best one I can come up with at short notice, dear oh dear so much to do today and here I am being frivolous, I should know better, still, one does have channels to fellow elf an safety personage. Take care Charles

Posted By steve 891 Charley Take a look at JSP 375 (Mod H&S manual)was available last time i looked via a search engine

Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney Smashing Clive, my gratitude and to everyone else who has kindly offered assistance! Still humbled Charles

Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney Thank you for that; it just gives me one of those warm tingly feelings when someone you don't know says something nice like this. Slightly blushing Charles PS: This was a rotten day all told until I came on this site!