Posted By Paul Bellis idealy the Occupational Health Nurse - I conjunction with the Manager, th nurse is the expert in what ill health effects thay may be encounterred in the work, the other knows what the lady does day to day and how she does it also the manager is able to put remedies etc in place. Paul

Posted By Kim Sunley Yes - I forgot to add the person who is a new or expectant mother and their trade union safety representative. but should you always involve a occupational health nurse?

Posted By Eric Burt Slightly off-topic........ I had a call one day from the manager of a pregnant employee who asked me to conduct the risk assessment because, as the Health and Safety Officer, I was responsible for all the pregnant women! Not true m'lud!

Posted By MichaelM Jez If pregnant lady is not "straightforward" does the risk assessment still cover her?

Posted By Craigy Don't forget about the assessment post birth......upon return to work....we have a policy on this subject...'e' mail me direct and i will send it to you.

Posted By Cathy Ricketts We train our managers in carrying out what are known as occupational health support risk assessments. These are not medical assessments but enable the manager to discuss with an employee foreseeable risks that might arise for their condition (this includes pregnancy, back conditions etc). We dont have occupational Health nurse available on site but do refer externally where specialist help is required. The managers have some guidelines to help them carry out these risk assessments and employees find them very supportive. This also fits in well with return to work interviews following absence. Pregnancy risk assessments shouldnt be rocket science if approached in a practical and sensible manner. Risks will varry according to the individual and their environment and as the pregnancy progresses.

Posted By Mike Craven John's last comment reminds me of how we issued a new policy and procedure on Pregnant Workers risk assessments in the Post Office a number of years ago. Each branch was provided with the policy and procedure and a risk assessment checklist and form "to be completed whenever a member of staff was known to be pregnant." We were carrying out an audit at one particular branch and were asking one rather keen manager to produce his risk assessments. He duly obliged and allowed us sight of VDU, manual handling. lone working, etc... and a pregnant workers risk assessment. I was confused, all members of staff at this small branch were male!!. I challenged the manager and he told me that he had done the risk assessment "in theory" by getting one of the blokes to "imagine being pregnant" - the mind boggles!!!! Mike