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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Work in a college,lambing Sunday???

31 replies

Brownbear84 · 01/02/2018 19:44

Had a risk assessment with my boss explained it wasn't safe for me work lambing Sunday and that was that. My other boss has come back from sick,and said I HAVE to work it!! I said I'm not risking it and risking anything to harm my baby!!! The day is compulsory for workers but I'm finding this disgusting!! Can anyone help me? Will the doctor or midwife do me a note to hand to work? I'm so stressed about it,keep coming home crying. 😪😪

OP posts:
insancerre · 01/02/2018 19:48

What's lambing Sunday?
And what is your job?

Whippetmamma · 01/02/2018 19:48

HR may be able to help? I had a similar problem with my boss wanting me to carry out chainsaw work whilst pregnant despite the risk assessment and company policy saying I wasn’t to. Went to HR and they were able to put their foot down. He went from being a bit of a knob to being a complete dick head after that though!

Cheekyandfreaky · 01/02/2018 19:49

Get a note from docs and give it to HR.

KadabrasSpoon · 01/02/2018 19:50

I think you are supposed to go with what the risk assessment says? Although it's not clear from your post what the risk is. Are you doing the lambing itself or just attending?

WitchesHatRim · 01/02/2018 19:51

Maybe they are thinking you can help in another way?

CheshireSplat · 01/02/2018 19:52

Is the problem that they don't believe you shouldn't be doing it. Would the NHS website help? www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/934.aspx?CategoryID=54

I live nowhere near any sheep but even I know to avoid them at lambing time when you're pregnant.

Esssa · 01/02/2018 19:53

If it means contact with the sheep I would refuse point blank. If it was just showing people round, not touching the sheep (could you wear gloves?), sort of light duties, then I can't see why you couldn't do that. Obviously be very careful what you touch and wash hands regularly and well. I assume this is one off contact with the sheep or you have bigger problems than just lambing Sunday.

HolyShmoly · 01/02/2018 19:54

You shouldn't be anywhere near the ewes or newborn lambs, and make sure everyone washes themselves thoroughly before touching you, etc. Basically, stay well away from any fluids involved in the birthing.

How do they manage to get all the ewes to lamb on the same day though? And the precision of it being on a Sunday?!

KadabrasSpoon · 01/02/2018 19:55

It might be as Witches says above that they find you another task to do. But do clarify that. For example someone in a lan would be given safe duties or a pilot might do admin rather than fly

KadabrasSpoon · 01/02/2018 19:56

*lab

FluffySavage · 01/02/2018 19:56

Ewes and lambs can carry toxoplasmosis which is usually fatal to a foetus and can result in early miscarriage. So no, you should absolutely not be going lambing under any circumstances. If the manager keeps insisting print off info about toxo from the .gov website and tell him/her to naff off unless he wants a visit from the HSE. (Sorry if this comes across as blunt! But some managers are idiots....)

martellandginger · 01/02/2018 19:58

Where do you work? Is the farmer your boss?

Every farm you ever visit tells pregnant women to not come into contact with lambs. You can stand near them but not touch.

gryffen · 01/02/2018 19:59

Check with HR and tell them you won't help and HSE will be informed if they try anything. Also if in a union get them involved.

turophile · 01/02/2018 20:00

HolyShmoly when I did work experience lambing, they injected all the ewes to bring their cycles into sync somehow and then mated them all on the same day. 95% of them then gave birth over one weekend which the owners had booked off work!

HolyShmoly · 01/02/2018 20:01

Wait, I've just googled it. Is it this? www.bishopburton.ac.uk/events/lambingsunday In which case they specifically say that pregnant women should not attend so I think you'd have a good case to say that if they aren't willing to take the chance on having pregnant visitors then I'm sure their insurance may not be happy with a pregnant employee, again unless they have you well away from any labouring ewes/newborn lambs, including not handling used hay, etc.
I believe the NHS has decent advice about where the danger lies, my knowledge is just from being on farms myself. We had some lambs born when I was home at Christmas, I could have went up to see them and would have been safe enough, but wouldn't have gotten involved with pulling them, for example.

If you're working the cafe, or something like that, you should be safe, assuming you use decent hygiene standards.

HolyShmoly · 01/02/2018 20:03

Ah turophile we have a much smaller operation than that, clearly! We have to look for what colour chalk was on the sheep's back (although there was no chalk on the ewe at Christmas, hence her lambing a couple months before the rest!)

liquidrevolution · 01/02/2018 20:06

Ticket booth or catering only for you if it's am open day event. I had to sit in a tractor with my DH and do the trailer rides when 6 months pregnant as I had to stay away from the lambs Hmm

Theimpossiblegirl · 01/02/2018 20:11

Are you onsite other days? If so, there will already hopefully be measures in place keeping you away from the pregnant sheep and lambing sheds.
If you normally work another campus, refuse to go. And yes, take it to HR.

PlugUgly1980 · 01/02/2018 21:17

We go to a Lambing Sunday event...in fact that one someone linked to above. It is massive...so many jobs you could do that don't involve lambs, including car parking, tickets, customer info, marshalling events (horse arena, farm equipment displays, tractor rides, other animals, zoo etc.) So depends on size and set up if it's a smaller affair. But100's of pregnant ladies attend the one near us and they are just advised not to go in the Lambing sheds...plenty of notices around the site.

Buxbaum · 01/02/2018 22:44

I grew up next to a working farm. Sheep farming families take the toxoplasmosis risk from lambing very seriously - to the extent that when our neighbour was pregnant the family members who had been lambing would remove and wash their protective clothing and boots elsewhere so that she did not even touch them. There is no way that you can be in lambing sheds when pregnant and your employer cannot compel you. Get a note from your midwife or GP if necessary.

Original poster
Brownbear84 · 03/02/2018 09:10

Basically I'm a cleaner at the College and they want me to work opposite the lambing the lambing sheds handing out paper towels etc!!!! Feel sick with worry!!! That's the one bishop burton that's where's I work. I'm seeing my doctor on Tuesday and the nurse will see what happens xxx

OP posts:
lnging · 03/02/2018 09:37

Surely you are at risk for the whole season not just the Sunday!

You shouldn't come into contact with anything or anyone who has delivered, touched a lamb

Just trying to figure out your roll dmd if you cleaning what are you cleaning and how do you protect yourself for the season

PlugUgly1980 · 03/02/2018 09:40

That's ridiculous, it's such a big site surely you could swap to covering something near the entrance, horse arena, catering, insects/reptiles etc...which is well away from any of the Lambing area? Seems odd to me!

GetUpAndGoGone · 03/02/2018 09:43

I would get that post above deleted - your employer could see it and it identifies you.

insancerre · 03/02/2018 09:46

Your risk assessment says you don't have to work it, so you don't have to work it
What's the point of doing a risk assessment if they ignore it?
I'd get a copy of it in case it is changed without your knowledge