Not AIBU but need help, any embalmers/undertakers here?? Pregnancy advice!!

[ilovecookies123]

Hello!! Wondered if anyone here can help me, I've had to name change because it's really indentifying and I'm worried someone from my work will see me.

I work in a funeral home and am 3months pregnant. I've only worked there for 8months and don't actually have anything to do with it all, I'm just the bookkeeper. I work in a separate office to where they care for and prepare all the deceased so it hasn't even occurred to me that there could be dangerous fumes from the embalming process. I've just found out today that they will be embalming someone from the branch I'm working at on Monday and I'm really really worried. I can't find much info online hats helpful. Does anyone know? I haven't actually told my work yet about my pregnancy.

Thanks!

I can't help. I just wanted to say that that is one of the oddest thread titles I've seen.

I mean I could not figure out what on earth you might be asking!

Once you've told them about your pregnancy ask for a risk assessment.
Have they said the fumes are dangerous? They shouldn't be exposing office staff to that anyway.

I don't know much at all about embalming, but I am a medical student and have not been allowed to be in the dissection lab while pregnant, due to chemicals in the air from the way the cadavers are prepared. BUT I have no idea if what is used is the same as embalming fluid, and also it's a very closed environment- the air is pumped round etc and the whole place smells very strongly - there's no 'fresh' air at all. I suspect if you're in a separate office with its own ventilation you're not in any danger - but if you're worried could you talk to one of the technicians/ embalmers in confidence? Say you don't want to tell work 'officially' yet but ask if there's anything for you to worry about? The people who use the chemicals on a daily basis are likely to know if there are any restrictions for pregnancy,

If there were fumes that were dangerous to you in a nearby office then they would have been dangerous for the last 8 months too. There isn't.

Sorry forgot to say - there were no restrictions on me being in the same building, even though you can smell the chemicals in the corridor outside, I just wasn't allowed to be in the dissection room itself.

CesareBorgiasUnicornMask This is what I think is the case. I think that as long as I'm not actually in the room then it's fine even if you can smell it. The room itself where they do the embalming does have built in ventilation fans aswell which I've just remembered. Unfortunately I don't feel comfortable at all to talk to the embalmer about it.

AbbeyRoadCrossing I will ask for a risk assessment but that won't help me on Monday when there is a planned embalm booked in unfortunately. I know it's safe for everyone that's in the building but I wasn't sure if it was if you are pregnant because online it does talk about how some of the chemicals used can be harmful to pregnant women the problem is there just doesn't seem to be much info.

I think the best things for me to do is probably just tell my boss tomorrow and then explain that I feel very anxious as I don't really know the risks and whether it is safe.

You will be fine. Have you been in the embalming room before? The smell is overwhelming. There's no way it's next to the office where members of public can walk in and potentially smell it.
Is it not out of the way, down a corridor? Would be very surprised if you have access to the embalming room as a bookkeeper.

OP - have a quick look at the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk for advice on risks working in funeral homes. I haven't had time to read them, but there seems to be advice there x

I don't normally work in the office where they embalm, I've found out they are coming over to our offices to do one next week, I'm not sure why at all. This office is very very small there's about 5 rooms including the kitchen and my office only has one room between them. I haven't ever smelt it before no because I don't normally work in the office that they do it in.