Didn't want to highjack the other thread ;-)

Scenario: Fast paced production line, Seasonal / Agency Worker is pregnant. Workers will be standing for 9 hours a day. We are currently investigating stool / high chairs so they can alternate between standing and sitting. Manual Handling is not an issue – Less than 1kg, no chemicals, not night working or other environmental issues.

Questions (Please can we stick to the issue of pregnant workers and not drift into general ergonomics):
1 – Is this suitable control (High Chair) – both options will end up in the same position for a period of time?
2 – Giving extra breaks will cause production issues to the line – Each person has a specific task, impacting on the next person, so this will be difficult
3 – If we decide we can not reduce the risk further and that no alternate work can be found, is it the Agency Company or Production Line companies responsibility.

Thanks

Thanks, already got that, my issue is 'Alternate between sitting and standing', providing a high chair suitable, both will present issues. We also feel the chair will not work, but are going to do trials tomorrow

Keep her employed but allocate other work more suitable for pregnancy.

She's an agency worker. End her period of work. Let her employer solve the problem.

we live in an unfare and cruel world but we alone will not change it so I have to side with the views of John M and co as its an employers issues unless the origional T&C's between the agency and its cleint says differently noting that [in my personal view] the 'agency' type employment system is one of the great employment scams that we have; as we treat people in many cases with less respect that we do a cat or dog

Not over reaching when pregnant is a bit of an old wives tale (supposedly the cord would wrap round the ba bies neck but that is nonsense). If overreaching was a problem why would activiiies like swimming be recommended and how on earth would any woman function on a daily basis with out over reaching at certain points?

You shouldn't make ANYONE overreach for 9 hours period though.

The trouble with pregancy is that each preganancy is different and each stage of the pregnancy is different. Some pregnant women will happily stand all day (think of hairdressers), yet others get water retention or back problems and need to rest regularly. You can't just guess what will work, you have to talk to the woman and see what happens.

Why second guess problems. Do the initial assessment and then if and when the pregnant woman says that there is a problem tackle the issue then. If ultimately she cannot do the work and you cannot give her extra breaks then she will have to find other work. That's not discrimination in my book.

Has anyone actually spoken to the woman to see if she is ok to stand?
Please speak to her first before sending her back to the agency, surely she realises she will be working on a production line and has no problems with that otherwise she wouldn't be there.

Thanks all, it is great help as it is reconfirming our course of action and keep it under constant review.

Clariel - You shouldn't make ANYONE overreach for 9 hours period though. Agreed - normal production does not make over overreaching an issue, but introducing a high chair does. We also have job rotation along the line, but this still envolves standing.

Thanks all, interesting to see different points of view. We also have our own female employee (Supervisors) in this area so need to ensure we get it right, although it is easier to change their work as they are not working on the production line all the time.

Have you considered using leaning stools as opposed to chairs?