People who know about workplace risk assessments for pregnant women...

[kickingking]

I am going to tell my employer (primary school) that I am 7 weeks pregnant later this week. Not looking forwards to that at all!

I know that in the past, risk assessments have not been done for other pregnant teachers. I'm not sure how they got away with that, but I know that they didn't do them.

My own risk assessment will be complicated by the fact that I am also T1 diabetic and, therefore, the pregnancy is classed as high risk. I am not sure how my employers will be able to carry out a risk assessment on that without input from me and/or my doctor, as I know most people wouldn't realise what the additional risks to me at work actually are.

Any advice on how I can make sure that a risk assessment gets done (and soon), how to make sure it's for me not a generic 'pregnant person in workplace' one, and how to approach it so that my boss doesn't end up thinking that I am foolishly risking life and limb by getting pregnant with diabetes? Really worrying about this.

OP, do you know who would be carrying out the risk assessment?

I think it would be the head doing the risk assessment.

ImBrian I'm worried about you. Can you claim your midwife or GP want to see a copy of the risk assessment asap? I'm most concerned about you with the children who need restraint - can you ask the head how you should deal with them, in your curent condition?

OP and Brian it is a legal requirement under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations that a suitable and sufficient risk assessment is carried out in relation to expectant mothers. If your employer does not do it they are breaking the law and could be prosecuted. Oeisha posted the link earlier to the HSE website which has some very useful info. Also a failure to protect you while pregnant is discrimination under the Sex Discrimination Act! See here

If you have raised it with your employer (in writing - see here) and they have not addressed it to your satisfaction you can complain to HSE and they will run it through their complaints procedure. It's worth remembering if you go through this route however that a letter from HSE saying that there has been a concern raised in relation to risk assessment for expectant mothers may well identify you as the complainant but if you have already spoken to your employer about it and said you will speak to HSE it won't be such a shock, I suppose!

Good luck! And congratulations :)