Posted By Smurfer
Is your job similar to other 'expectant mothers' whom you have risk assessed in the past? For example desk-work, walking round sites, no heavy lifting, etc. If so, then why not base your assessment and controls on similar roles? Surely then you can justify to your bosses the controls needed for you?

Oh, and if a muddled mind and wanting five extra breaks a day are a symptom of pregnancy, then, despite the biological impossibility, I must be!

Posted By Lilian McCartney
Hi Joanne,

I can see your point. I was off sick (not pregnant - muscle condition) and when I came back to work they got someone else to assess me as they thought I'd be too hard on myself about what I oculd and couldn't do. As there was no-one in the organisation they got the Occ helath provider to do it as well as my back to work health assessment.

I would reckon that it should be your Manager who assesses you.

I should say that managers here usually assess but in 'out of the oridnary' situations I assist/advise.

Lilian

Posted By Christopher
yes, you can both before and after the event. Think maternity legislation. I may be wrong, but is the assessment essentially a tick box sheet. Most of the general hazards to pregnant women have been identified! What makes it relevant to you , is if your GP identifies you have specific health conditions as a result of your pregancy. Then the GP's recommenations would kick in and take priority over any previous assessment. The assessment will be ongoing, but it will be your responsibility to share with your manager any issues which may have an impact on your undertaking your role. For instance if you can't sleep at night, you may have to be allowed to come in later. If the job doesn't agree with you in pregnancy, you may have to be suspended on full pay.

Posted By Homer
Sorry forgot the spell checker, can't type to save my life.

Posted By MeiP
I did my own. I felt as I was the most qualified person onsite, and that I knew exactly what I was & wasn't capable of, it made more sense than anyone else doing it.

I was just pretty straightforward & said I would take breaks / restrict work & specified the conditions for it. I recorded everything & sent it to my line manager for review. We also review our mat. risk assessments 4 weekly, or when the expectant mother informs us of a change, so that we can keep up to date.

The control measures for me are now less onerous as I'm not fainting all over the place anymore.

Hope you have a happy healthy pregnancy!

Posted By LSalt
Hi,

I'm afraid I'm going to go against the general consensus and say that I don't think it is appropriate to risk assess yourself under these circumstances. I am a H&S Manager in my current role who has just had a baby and returned recently to work. I have had difficult and high risk pregnancies which is why I think I'm a little over-sensitive about this issue!!

Basically, I believe that whilst you will undoubtedly be the person who knows most of the ins and outs of the regs and requirements, your employer MUST take responsibility for the initial and ongoing risk assessment of your role and environment. The way I've done this is to 'guide' my risk assessor through the proforma but it is also important that you get an impartial second input into the assessment. This is because, you need the managers signature and therefore the employers committment to the actions and it is not ethical for you to take this on your shoulders as the one who is carrying the unborn child!

Also, as maternity law goes, if you are not happy with the arrangements for you then you have rights to appeal, take leave etc etc and it would be on dodgy footing if you've carried out the assessment yourself.

I hope this helps and I'm not on my soap box too much. Pregnancy just gets harder and harder the more your tummy expands (sleepless nights start etc etc) and it is vital you get the best care. This is one case where you need to be the 'employee' and not the person who is responsible for your H&S - that's your employers role in this instance.

Hope you have a stress free, happy and healthy pregnancy :o)