High risk job

[erised]

I had my first risk assessment for work yesterday, my manager went through it and almost everything came up as high risk.

I'm a supervisor of a retail store that deals with trading items and selling so I get a lot of angry customers (has become violent in the past), unsavory characters, involves lifing/pushing large crates and boxes of heavy items, busy enviroment, lots of bending and reaching, small spaces where the staff have to push past each other, 8.5 hour days. I have a higher risk pregnancy due to EDS and high blood pressure so I need to take it easy.

Anyone else had to work in this sort of job with success?

The outcome of your risk assessment should be what duties you are and are not expected to do because of the pregnancy. Part of the discussion should’ve been if you don’t do the heavy lifting, who does. You should’ve also been asked what concerns you had which should’ve been addressed as part of it.

If you are not happy or clear with the plan, you need to go back to your line manager.

The risk assessment should be redone in each trimester so when you get a bump, the space thing can be raised etc.

If your employer has admitted that there are big risks to your work environment surely it's their responsibility to put practises in place to make it safe or move you to a safe role for the duration of your pregnancy? It doesn't seem right to me that they've sat down and said 'yes, there are x amount of risks. get on with it' else what's the point in them even doing the assessment? I don't know the ins and outs of HR but that doesn't seem right as it's not your fault you're in an unsafe environment

I'm a police officer so in a similar position - there's loads of stuff I can't and won't do. It's a complete pain in the arse and there's no way it won't be affecting my career - not anyone's fault but if I can't do stuff then of course I'm missing out on experience. It sucks but that's just how it is.

I work in a very high risk job but very different sector and the point of the risk assessment is to first identify the risks and then determine together what you can do to get rid of them so you're not put at risk.
If they can't get rid of the risk or minimise it then I'm sure you shouldn't be doing that part and if there isn't any alternative, offer you paid time off (I think if I remember rightly).
For me, getting rid of the risks was just to put me in an office

We did discuss what I'm comfortable doing. We agreed that I would get other staff to lift and that if a confrontation occurs with a customer then I would call over another supervisor or my manager. I'm also now not allowed to be the only management at work, I have to have another with me all day to prevent any unwanted stress. I can't be moved to another position as all staff work together behind tills and there's no other rolls available.

They have to carry out a risk assessment each trimester. If you are unable to do your regular work whilst pregnant they have to find you an alternative acceptable-to-both-parties position or send you home on full pay (they cannot dock pay because you are pregnant, nor can they send you on unpaid leave if they have no suitable work for you. Pregnancy is one of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.)

I’ve been out in positions at work each time I was pregnant that were areas way outside my normal scope of work. I work in aviation and your medical (which is essential to work) is suspended for the duration of pregancy.