Pregnancy and risks in the workplace - AIBU?

[ethelfleda]

I really am not sure if I am being a bit of a princess here so hoping not to get totally ripped to shreds!

I am 6 months pregnant. Work knows and have done since 12 weeks. They have never carried out a risk assessment. I work in an office so haven't really worried too much about it until today. One of my colleagues wandered in this morning and announced he was too busy to take care of some parcels and pretty much dumped the paperwork on my desk and told me to sort. Parcels were now urgent and have been sat there for nearly a week - client is a very good client and do not want to upset them by delaying them further.

Problem is these parcels contain (amongst other things) hazardous chemicals - flammable liquids and corrosives mainly. They are also at a warehouse around the corner from where we work, in a messy little room that is full of boxes and people's bikes amongst other crap (it's not our warehouse, they let us use this space for this purpose only as the premises where we are won't allow us to store hazardous chemicals) I'm supposed to go over first thing in the morning to repackage and label them etc in time to be picked up... AIBU to refuse to handle them and ask someone else to do it?? Or would you just carry on and sort it and keep your head down?

Having a pretty rough time with colleagues etc there at the moment so hoping for no drama until I finally go on mat leave!

Have you emailed HR? They would have your workplace guidelines. Handling hazardous chemicals should also have a procedure with details on whether to handle while pregnant.

You should have also had at least a desk assessment but I think it's up to you to highlight any problem areas and seek advice.

What if you ask another colleague to swap tasks? Explain you might struggle in the little space. Maybe someone could give you some tasks that s/he doesn't fancy doing and prefers the manual work somewhere. Is there anyone who hates calling people? I would trade manual handling for call calling any day! Lol
I think if you just say you can't do it, people might be annoyed if for what you say are not supportive, specially if nobody has done the assessment! But if you offer to trade a task, maybe for different mini-tasks, they might be ok with that and see that you are being sensible and not "a princess" like you say you worry

*cold calling

YANBU its a legal requirement for them to conduct a RA, my workplace didn't do one until last week even though they were informed at 9 weeks-I'm now 22 weeks-but that was because of an idiot boss who's now left.
I think you can initially do the first bit yourself and this would highlight any risks putting the onus on them to protect you.
You definitely shouldnt be doing the lifting and entering a hazardous workshop

Thank you for the replies. There isnt anyone else who can do this (other than the guy who who palmed it off on to me!) as we are the only two who have completed the relevant training.

I wanted to say something about the RA buy again didn't want to make a fuss! And our HR department aren't based in this country (we are an international organisation) but I think I can still contact them... although I'm not sure even who the right person is to speak to

It's just not a great place to work at the minute!

I hardly ever say this, but pretend to faint/have a turn, and go home. You shouldn't be handling this kind of stuff.

I'd then go back to the guy who dropped it on you. Say you are really sorry but you've been waiting and pushing the parcels to the end of the to-do list because you have received advise on not to handle toxic substances or weight, and in other circumstances you would do it but if you can do another task that he considers equivalent and might help him, you would that instead. Then mention that you are still waiting on the risk assessment to be done, because otherwise that would have been brought up earlier, as toxic substances and pregnancy do not mix! I'd reiterate that you want to do another task like-to-like.

Have a read at this to see which of those substances could be harmful: www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/is-it-safe/chemical-exposure-during-pregnancy/

And the specific risks to look for here: www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/faqs.htm

And example templates from www.hse.gov.uk/risk/casestudies/index.htm

Also, the company's intranet should have information on Risk Assessment Department or HR or Pregnancy Guidelines, if it's a big international company. At 6 months you are in your third semester or approaching it, you shouldn't be bending down and carrying weight when there are other people to do it!

Thank you jedimum that is really helpful.
It's tough one 'not wanting to cause a fuss' but feeling as though I should say something! Have literally just started 3rd trimester and bending down is becoming difficult!

I would check the chemicals, might not be harmful for either of you at all or may be really risky. That way you can go to HR with a full understanding of what you are up against