Marty, HSE have good guidance and reference materials on their site here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/faqs.htm

Thanks, i'll have a look later. Regarding the chemical exposure, she will be out of the laboratory as of the end of today, so that is no longer an issue. We thought it would safer and easier forus to err on the side of caution and remove her from the higher risk area of the building. I was wondering what other areas need risk assessing, but I will look at the links given and devise and assessment.

A key consideration which can get missed is "Has her medical professional given her any specific advice?" Also, remember that things change rapidly in pregnancy - you'll need to review the RA every so often. It needn't be onerous, just five minutes over a cup of tea with the lady to check the comments are still relevant.

Well I'm not going to look into changing our COSHH assessment routine, I believe this is already more than adequate. I am not assessing pregnancy, it was just a figure of speech. I am assessing what may be required to enable an expectant mother to work safety in the company. So all employee's are already protected against the hazardous and potentially hazardous reagents / and chemicals. But I believe there may additional requirements for an expectant mother to help ensure the safety of her and her unborn child. So whilst I believe that the expectant mother is already in a safe environment, I am required by law to carry out a separate risk assessment to further ensure her welfare. I would also expect it to raise a fair few issues regarding changer her current job role over coming months to manage and minimise risk.

Ron, Although it may not be prescriptive under the Manregs to carry out a separate RA is it not in the HSE guidance because it is good practice? Besides, would you not have an additional duty of care for an expectant mother in common law? I do understand the gist of your comments however that risks should be assessed as part of a normal business RA programme as we do need to protect all women "of child bearing age", however I wouldn't change our approach of an "additional" risk assessment as opposed to a "separate" one. It's definately a worthwhile exercise. Regards, Ian

Ron, everything you say is true, and wherever women of child bearing capacity are working, RAs need to account for the fact that one of them may be pregnant. However... MHSWR (and others) require RAs to be reviewed and updated when there's a material change in circumstances. A woman becoming pregnant can/may affect - her manual handling capability - her ability to evacuate premises in a timely manner in a fire emergency - the advisability of her spending long periods on her feet - the advisability of her working long hours - etc etc Added to which, every pregnancy is diferent and every woman will be given slightly different advice by her medical professionals. The only way to capture all this lot is with a specific risk assessment for this one lady, doing the particular job she does and this particular pregnancy.

Within our work there are a number of processes which only become a high risk when a female is pregnant. If they are not the risk is small with the proper control measures. Some they cannot perform at all. If they state they are pregnant they are removed from performing that task. There are also other roles within the work which should not be performed or only performed with enhanced control measures by pregnant woman. Men and non pregnant woman do not require the same level of control measures. How can you then has a RA that covers changing circunstances when a worker states she is pregnant.

...errrm, but I'd said "Ron, everything you say is true, and wherever women of child bearing capacity are working, RAs need to account for the fact that one of them may be pregnant." Oh hang on, I see what you mean - the RA has to account for risks to an as-yet unconceived child caused by chemical effects on her reproductive capacity (is that teratogenic? It isn't relevant in my workplace and Mod C was a long time ago!) Although I think we agree on the key thing, that where women who may be or could become pregnant are working, RAs need to consider relevant risks to them. Totally agree on the activity risk assessment - in that the existing RA will have dealt with risks that are common to all or most pregnant women (and those in the groups mentioned above) - but I think some formal method is needed to ensure that any specific needs of the individual (such as specific advice given by her medical practitioner) is captured. For example, a woman who is in good health and has had previous trouble-free pregnancies will receive much different advice, from a woman who's in a high risk group because of underlying medical conditions and has had problem pregnancies in the past. It's that formal process of complying with specific individual needs that I'm calling the Pregnant and Nursin Mother Risk Assessment.