Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Andrew Halford  
#1 Posted : 27 October 2010 12:04:59(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Andrew Halford

The issue relates to newborn babies being brought into the workplace by employees currently on maternity leave.Is their any legislation or guidance covering this issue?
MB1  
#2 Posted : 27 October 2010 12:17:21(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
MB1

If they are currently on maternity leave are they bringing in their baby to show their workmates or have been invited back for a catch up? The former.... Really is a management decision/policy and if so then look at suitable place to display their newborn e.g. meeting room, canteen etc The latter... then if agreement by management to allow employees to bring their child into the workplace, suitable provision will be required to ensure their well being etc I expect
blodwyn  
#3 Posted : 27 October 2010 12:20:48(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
blodwyn

There is no legislation or guidance. But IMO it is a common issue - we have it at our place often. Here I really think common sense has to prevail. If you are an MVR spraying isocyanate paints, or manufacturing, labs etc etc then you have to say these are not appropriate places to be bringing a baby into. If as I suspect it is the offices then I am sure it is fine unless there are good reasons why not. On our site for the shop floor workers we have asked that if they do come in they come in at breaktimes and to the canteen area which is separate in our grounds - as we are a manufacturing site we cannot have babies brought into the shop floor - hard enough getting visitors in!!!! For offices again we ask they come at break times. Each site will make their own arrangements I am sure the most sensible being asking the new mum to come at a pre-arranged time
David Bannister  
#4 Posted : 27 October 2010 12:25:12(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David Bannister

This is a very common occurence in my experience. Just to be a little pedantic: all H&S legislation applies to ensure that visitors remain safe etc. Hence a very low risk environment such as the staff canteen or meeting room is appropriate, certainly not the foundry casting floor.
Ron Hunter  
#5 Posted : 27 October 2010 12:42:41(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ron Hunter

The pragmatic view would be it's fine to bring the new born into the welfare area, or the office, but to keep these precious bundles away from production and process areas. I would be more concerned about toddlers in the workplace - there have been recent tragedies involving falls through ballustrades.
Safety Smurf  
#6 Posted : 27 October 2010 13:31:56(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Safety Smurf

ron hunter wrote:
The pragmatic view would be it's fine to bring the new born into the welfare area, or the office, but to keep these precious bundles away from production and process areas. I would be more concerned about toddlers in the workplace - there have been recent tragedies involving falls through ballustrades.
Aaah! That might explain a stipulation laid down by a warrant officer that I thought a little excessive. Ron, have you got any details of these cases involving the falls through ballustrades?
Jane Blunt  
#7 Posted : 27 October 2010 13:53:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Jane Blunt

Safety Smurf  
#8 Posted : 27 October 2010 13:56:37(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Safety Smurf

The building was in Edinburgh so that would explain it.
redken  
#9 Posted : 27 October 2010 13:58:51(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
redken

Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.