We have just started to allow employees to work from home due to our new "Flexible Working Policy". All of the DSE and Home Working assessments are in place and the employees will be doing Office Work only.

One issue that has come up is Pregnant Workers, working from home alone. They are Vulnerable Persons due to the increased chances of collapse and our normal policy is to ensure they don’t work alone. However, this is being challenged as a Draconian Health and Safety Rule and even Trade Union reps are supporting the challenge.

When risk assessing the situation it’s really difficult to demonstrate, because it can be avoided, the risks are as low as Reasonably Practicable (ALRP) and as you all know this is a real legal test if anything goes wrong.

The Risk management has looked at all the technology and current systems available and the don’t management risk ALARP.

So the question is: - Is this a Draconian Health and Safety Rule or Not.    

I'm not sure draconian is the word I would use, I would go much stronger.

Increased chances of collapse, you say?

I genuinely had to check to see when this post was written, as it seems like an april fool.

Let them work at home.  They're not ill, they're pregnant.

 They are Vulnerable Persons due to the increased chances of collapse and our normal policy is to ensure they don’t work alone. Really?

However, this is being challenged as a Draconian Health and Safety Rule and even Trade Union reps are supporting the challenge. I'm not surprised!

I can't say I've ever seen either of these on a pregnant workers' RA.

Is this a Draconian Health and Safety Rule or Not. Yes, I think it might be. Please don't take this as a lack of empathy, but if the worry is so acute, then medical advice needs to be sought.

clearly if you are unable to enact your controls you must find your pregnant workers different tasks or send them home on full pay - hang on i think i may have spotted a problem!

Surely we only monitor someone with a health issue if there is a possibility that their health might be affected by their work. As has been stated, pregnancy is not a health problem. It is only if a risk assessment shows that their work might affect their health due to their pregnancy that you would need to monitor. Since it is highly unlikely the work they are doing at home will affect their health why would you need to monitor?

The rules were put there to protect pregnant women who may be exposed to heavy lifting, chemical inhalation, extreme heat or cold, long hours on their feet, etc. not from themselves at home sitting at a desk.