Rank: Forum user 
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My wife was asked the other day at work (she is a LM) whether she had created a menopause risk assessment for her work colleagues, to which she then asked me whether there was such a thing. I have never completed such a RA before but have started to look into it to help her out. Has anyone else been involved in the creation of RA's or policy for such a situation please.
Bob
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Rank: Forum user
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this has got to be a wind up!!
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Rank: Super forum user
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It must be a wind up. Although the menopause can cause some rather unpleasant behaviours it is a normal aspect of a womans life cycle. There are some medications available from your doctor to control some of it effects and anyone who is suffering from it should be encouraged to seek medical assistance. It is now more common as more and more women are in the work environment but how do you undertake a risk assessment without asking women if they have such a problem, could be termed as sexual harrasment by some who may be a bit touchy because they are suffering from the menopause. HR should deal with this issue and not risk assessment because what is the risk, none to health or safety but don't try and test it as you may get the wrong side of some people.
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Rank: Forum user
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No its not a wind up the union are quite adamant about it :-[
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Rank: Super forum user
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The straight answer to the union is that you will do one where a menopausal woman has specific problems that need to be assessed. These assessments as with young persons and pregnancy are done on an individual basis in response to need
Bob
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Rank: Super forum user
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Then I suggest you don't undertake a risk assessment but get your HR function to get the union rep in and discuss the issue as a HR problem. There may be some affect of bad tempers etc that could have an impact on performance of any tasks but you will need to look at that in relation to the size of the problem. Try and manage it as a medical issue rather than go off and do a risk assessment.
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Rank: Forum user
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Could the union rep be seeing a form of bullying going on & the menapause has been bandied about just to smoke screen the real problems? I agree it has to be an HR issue, I am a union safety rep & I would hate to think we are being cast in a bad light in what is to many, depending on indusatry, a trivial issue that has gone off on the bonkers trail. ( See the Daily Rubbish papers)
If you come up with anything it would be interesting to note.
regards
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I would be inclined to talk to the union orunion rep and get to the bottom of it. Not sure if it's a 'wind up' but I can't help but feel that someone, somewhere has got hold of the wrong end of the wrong stick. I have NEVER heard of anything of this nature.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Rank: Super forum user
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Why is this a male dominated post? :-):-)
Bob
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Rank: Super forum user
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The menopause is not necessarily unique to women, if some medical experts are to be believed. However, I would go with the majority - this is a natural part of ageing, a risk associated with life in general and unless there are particular work place issues arising is not a "significant risk" - In my humble opinion (as a man)
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Rank: Forum user
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never heard of that ....HR and the union should sort that one out........
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Rank: Forum user
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The union are wrong - I feel for you, you are between a rock and a hard place, its this kind of trivia that gives H&S a bad name, but you are also under pressure. Could this be because other people at work are incapable of managing a situation themselves, so is their thinking 'lets make it a H&S issue'?
Over the years Ive had some right oddities come my way as H&S 'issues', toilet roll holders being the latest.....
Certain people have a statuatory right to a risk assessment, young people, new and expectant mothers, etc. This doesnt extend to the menopause, good luck.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Unfortunately this does not sound like a wind-up as the very same issue was recently brought up at an Occ Health meeting that I attend, which includes OH Nurses & H&S practitioners!
The consensus was that no such Risk Assessment was required.
PS - perhaps "LM" refers to Line Manager?
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Rank: Forum user
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Dear All,
As I said towards the top of the post IT IS NOT A WIND UP.
LM = Line manager
Are there any Ladies out there that could possibly assist?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Bob,
Further to my previous posting I just want to confirm that the majority of the people present at the meeting mentioned were women in either a professional OH or H&S capacity & their opinion was that such a RA was not required & that the lady who had tabled the question should respond to the TU in that vein.
Zyggy
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Rank: Super forum user
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My personal opinion - you don't need to do a risk assessment.
Unless you are also going to do a special risk assessment for those whose football team lost over the weekend, or whose car broke down.
PS I'm female, and have personal experience.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Jane Blunt wrote:My personal opinion - you don't need to do a risk assessment.
Unless you are also going to do a special risk assessment for those whose football team lost over the weekend, or whose car broke down.
PS I'm female, and have personal experience.
Jane, eloquently put. As the menopause is neither a diease or a disability then I personally wouldn't do a risk assessment, I have many women in my complany and I have not heard of this before, nor can I find and HSE guidance....
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi
I had a T&G rep ask the same thing of us a number of months ago - and from what I gathered at the time it was a formal recommendation from either the TUC or the T&G itself.
Whilst there was some discussion about the topic it was highlighted (and indeed has been noted in previous post) that it is a personal experience and the main issues that were of concern to our TU colleagues tended to be medical in nature and as such would be dealt with via the HR policies of the organisation.
There was no H&S arrangement developed, we did not issue guidance on the menopause risk assessments - and indeed at this point in time there remains no intention to support specific menopause risk assessments as existing processes can be used should the HR policies need supplemented
hope this helps
Stuart
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Not wishing to make light of this but funny how a lot of women's problems begin with "men"
How many can you think of starting with menopause?
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Rank: Super forum user
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What next, a male pattern baldness assessment and penile erectile dysfunction RA?
(PS, experience of the former, not of the latter :-) )
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Rank: Moderator 
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The original question has been answered. In order to prevent further digression, this topic is now locked.
Moderating team
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