Any other MTB work in Garden Maintenance?

[elliekatejo]

Hi there,

I'm currently 9 weeks pregnant and work in Garden Maintenance. I'm the only woman they've ever hired so everyone was pretty unsure of the protocols. I travel 40 mins to work and work 7.30 until 5.30, outside in the heat all day doing physical work. I don't have access to a toilet or a sanitary area for washing my hands. I only get one break a day which is lunch (however we do drive between gardens sometimes so the drive can be considered a break). We use very heavy and loud machinery, i have to help with lifting the heavy waste bags etc. I've been feeling very ill and exhausted this first trimester and also like this job isn't particularly suitable anymore, especially when I'm bigger and it will be well into sunmer! Just looking for advice from women who work in similar jobs, whether I should find alternative work as according to them they don't have any office work they can give me... or if I should man up 😂

TIA!

Have you had any form of risk assessment ? Don’t be pushed out of your job just because you are pregnant.

If they’ve not hired a woman before and don’t know what to do they should go off the HSE guidance. Their lack of knowledge is not an excuse to put you at risk. The duty to maintain a safe working environment for you is required as part of statutory law.
If your work needs to be adjusted to accommodate your changing body and physically abilities then that’s what needs to happen.
https://www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/

I'm a full time gardener but at a large organisation with varying kinds of gardening jobs and depts (heritage sector). They did a risk assessment based on my specific job and found it flagged high risk due to the nature of the work, so I happily moved to a quieter area of gardening work at about 5 months. Even the new area, though gentler on the body, takes it's toll so I can sit down when I feel the need, take extra breaks etc etc, avoid heavy lifting. Id imagine it's much harder in maintenance gardening when you're moving garden to garden, but a risk assessment must still be done and an alternative offered by your organisation. You may have to go on maternity leave quite early too as pregnancy related sickness or illness in last two months before will trigger maternity, but this may be better for your body anyway!

There are other departments at my organisation which has barely any women and they didn't know what do to with their pregnant ladies when they had them, but it's not an excuse they should be reading up on law as the PP says, and you shouldn't be pushed out of a job for being pregnant.

Hope they can alter your role a bit as gardening takes a huge toll on the body anyway, I was absolutely exhausted in first trimester but am really enjoying the energetic section of 16 to 33 weeks where I am ATM :) could you not do more of the softer landscaping going forward?