Any pregnant outdoor workers?

[bogbean]

Me: I am 18+1 weeks pregnant and although generally well and happy, am easily worn out and struggling with my unusual job.

The job: Basically I am a wildlife/habitat surveyor. In winter the company I work for mostly does bird surveys. This involves sitting outdoors (Scotland, winter, all weathers) in remote locations for up to 7 hours in a dayrecording bird flights. My days are often up to 12 hours long with hours of driving to sites and some very early starts (5am for example).

Am I wrong or is it a bit much to be expected to continue doing this sort of thing whilst pregnant? I NEVER have access to a toilet and have to pee and poo in bushes, am ALWAYS freezing cold no matter how many layers I pile on and get so tired that I sometkmes have to sleep in the car on he way home.

I long for a warm office - which I do get 2 - 3 days a week. I just get destroyed by the outdoor stuff.

Anyone else pregnant and working outdoors in winter?

Firstly, congratulations! And your job sounds very interesting, even if a bit of a strain for a pregnant lady. I imagine apart from the cold it can be very satisfying.

Does your employer know about your pregnancy? If so have they done a risk assessment? They may have to find you alternative work, especially as you need access to a loo at all times. I can't think it's very nice for you to be squatting in bushes as you get bigger - part of my job involves delivering in a van for up to 8 hrs a day but I no longer do this due to it involving heavy lifting and no loo!!!

I hope you find the answers you need :)

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

plonko is right, your employer must do a risk assessment and find you alternative duties if found necessary. I would definitely say that you can't carry on without being near a loo! Do you do your outdoor stuff alone? I'm sure there is a lone working element for them to consider too.

It would be very unreasonable of them to expect you to carry on as normal especially as you get bigger. Good luck!

Oh bogbean that doesn't sound much fun. Your job in itself I wouldn't mind - but not while expecting and things won't get any easier. Your employer should surely be looking at having you more office based in the weeks to come?

I work for myself and it is all outdoors and involves alot of physical work, but I am struggling with MS and it is not going to get any easier as I get bigger. Luckily I have some help these days, and my OH helps out when he can, but I can't just shut up shop so have to soldier on with my work even when I am alone. Am dreading my help having a day off!!

I am knackered by the end of the day and then home jobs just get left..
I hope you can sort something to make your days a little easier.

Thanks everyone...

My boss has risk assessed my job apparently, but I've never actually seen any evidence of this. There has been no discussion about when I'm due to stop outdoor work. It is partly my fault as I need to sit down with him and chat but he has been such a grumpy arse with us all recently that I've been putting it off.

There doesn't seem to be much guidance on what is appropriate to do whilst pregnant regarding outdoor work. For example, I am increasingly struggling to climb fences and locked gates! Still seem to have to do it!

I'd be interested to speak with other ecologist/surveyor types out there.

Erm, he sounds like a lovely fella to work for [hmmm]

Your boss can't do a risk assessment without your agreement. It's a legal document that you have to sign, and should very much be a 2 way conversation. For instance, you mention climbing over fences - you and your boss should discuss that to find a way to minimise the risk of you going arse over tit and potentially harming yourself or your baby. In my opinion your boss has not completed a risk assessment.

Fwiw I work as a trainee manager in a warehouse, hence the deliveries. When I informed my boss of my pregnancy they couldn't immediately carry out a risk assessment but in the meantime I was told not to touch deliveries, not to lift anything heavier than 8kg (ish) and never to work alone. RA completed at 13 weeks, am now 26 weeks working reduced hours and doing lots of admin. And I still struggle! Seriously, press your boss, they owe you more than you are getting.