Working in Construction and Pregnancy

[Sep88]

Hi Everyone! I’m currently 23 weeks pregnant and working as a building standards surveyor. I usually spend around two days a week on various construction sites, which often involves climbing ladders and scaffolding to check that the work on site matches the approved plans (no manual labour or lifting involved).

I’m the only woman in my department, and while my manager has completed a risk assessment, I don’t feel it’s particularly good (I think he stole it from the planning department) .

I’d really appreciate hearing from others in the industry, when did you transition to a more desk-based role during pregnancy? Any insights or experiences would be really helpful! I don’t really want to be on site in my third trimester, but don’t really know what’s reasonable!

Thanks in advance!

Any use?

https://cms.chasnz.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/18714-CHASNZ-Pregnancy-in-Construction-Guide-v39.pdf

I think it just depends on how you feel. I continued my site based role right until the end. I did suffer from SPD, but found the physio exercises and light yoga really helped. I did my last checks three days before I went into labour!! Risk assessments in my work are commonplace and this one was no different, it was sensible and based on what I felt capable doing. You can find some online if your work don’t have suitable ones. The PC should have a good one if you are going on their site. Hope everything goes well, I really enjoyed the site work actually!!

Surely you should speak with your H&S Advisor?

Or when you get to a point where you feel unfit to go on site you ask for it to be reviewed.

I would add that I don't think you should be going near any potentially hazardous substances, chemical plants, waste water, if those are the sort of sites you are visiting

If you’re not comfortable doing some tasks then you need to make that known. They’ve done a risk assessment, you don’t mention any complications so there’s probably not a practical reason that you can’t carry on. That’s certainly not to say suck it up, just to say they can’t go off what they don’t know so you need to speak up

I visited construction sites right up to 8 months pg. I stopped going up ladders probably around 7 months. If you are in an inspection role then the risks are much lower than if you were in a manual role. I would keep the risk assessment under regular review, perhaps to coincide with your schedule of midwife appointments. Things might change during your pregnancy which require your RA to be updated. As with any job, you could work right up to the final weeks provided the right support is in place. Equally you could have a medical need to reduce work earlier.

From A background on different sorts of sites - there are a few key angles to consider.

1. Hearing protection. There’s a straightforward weeks cut off that essentially applies to any areas where hearing protection is required. Because babies can’t wear it and sound travels through skin. If any of your work involves hearing protection that should be identified.
2. Things that are specific hazards to pregnant women or unborn babies. There aren’t many of these around, but if there are then need to be specifically considered. Any time Coshh controls apply to you they should be checked specifically for pregnancy. I suspect asbestos is one of them.
3. PPE - still needs to be worn, and fit appropriately. This sometimes becomes the limit as it’s not always possible to sort in the required time frame. You’ll need to monitor this yourself as no one can usefully do it for you. Flag early if you perceive it being an issue. If it’s a boots, high vis and glasses site then unlikely to be. If you work at height and need a harness it’s very different and you probably want to start getting specialist advice on that now.
4. How pregnant affects you specifically. Your manager can’t second guess this, so you need to help them. Some people remain very mobile and never get light headed. Some struggle with certain movements early on and are permanently light headed. Site based / working at height is not suitable for them at any point. Good basic test, what if I fainted where I am at any point during the day. Would be it anything more than inconvenient all round.

Health and safety act still applies. Employer has to try and identify risks and control them. Employee has to raise any additional ones they identify.

Employers are in a tough place on this one. Pregnancy isn’t a disease and some people don’t need or want any adjustments. Others need and / or want lots. If you’re in the latter you’ll generally need to ask as restricting unnecessary could be classed as maternity discrimination.

Thanks all! This has been very helpful!

I’m feeling fine at the moment. I work in quite a rural area so it’s mainly domestic sites (I’ve got a few big multi plots). It’s just climbing up ladders that I’m not sure I’ll want to do for too much longer. Some site managers have been surprised to see me turning up. My bump is quite big already and I do get a bit breathless. My line manager is very supportive- but it’s a first for both of us!! I’ll suggest updating the risk assessment and see how I go!

I also said no ladders and scaffold - from as soon as I was pregnant really

still makes me smile remembering when I’d ring the contractors and inform them I was pregnant so they could review any site specific risks and inductions etc - they’d flap so much it was like they’d never seen a pregnant woman before 😂
ask them where the space is for you to lie down and rest - apparently all work places should provide one for pregnant women even construction sites - the panic in their eyes 😂

Tell them you are no longer prepared to go up ladders due to the risk. You could use a drone instead.

Definitely speak with your boss and say no more ladders.

The Site Mangers are probably starting to get concerned that something happens to you on 'their' site and the finger is pointed at them.

While you are fit enough, the thing to remember your center of gravity changes, so your more likely to fall or trip.