Pregnant at Work Frequently Asked Questions

• I have just discovered I’m pregnant – from when do the regulations protect me from hazards in the workplace?
• What other legislation provides protection during this period?
• What should the employer do when he/she becomes aware that that an employee is pregnant?
• What does assess the risk mean?
• What are the main hazard types to which a pregnant or breast feeding employee can be exposed?
• What do General hazards include?
• What are the hazards specific to pregnancy?
• What are the hazards specific to breastfeeding?
• am breastfeeding – what are my rights in the workplace?
• I am pregnant – does my employer need to provide a rest room?
• I work in a very noisy environment – can it harm my hearing or that of my unborn child?
• I am pregnant/breastfeeding and work with radioactive sources.  What damage can they cause?
• How and where can I find information on the statutory ionising radiation dose limits currently applying to pregnant employees?
• I am working with non-ionising radiation – can it cause damage to my unborn baby or me?
• Can extremes of cold or heat affect my unborn baby or me?
• What biological agents are harmful to me while pregnant?
• What do hazard groups 2, 3 and 4 mean?
• How can I avoid the risks associated with these hazard groups while pregnant?
• Is my employer responsible to carry out a risk assessment of all biological agents?
• What chemical agents are known to endanger the health of pregnant employees and their unborn children?
• What do the Risk Phrases mean?
• I work for long periods at a display screen – is this harmful to my unborn child?
• What happens when the risk cannot be removed?
• What is Health and Safety Leave?
• I am 6 months pregnant and my employer only carried out a risk assessment yesterday and has told me I will have to take health and safety leave today.  Should the risk assessment be carried out sooner?
• My employer has said that I must take health and safety leave and has not provided me with alternative work even though it is there.  I feel my employer is unfairly treating me because of my pregnancy – what can I do?
• Where can I get information on Maternity Leave?
• Where can I get information on Maternity Benefit Payments?
• What role does the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have when dealing with pregnancy at work?
• My job consists of working in pressurised enclosures occasionally – can this affect my health while pregnant?
• What about diving while pregnant?
• My work involves occasional underground mining work – is this harmful while pregnant?
• Where can I find Useful Contacts and References?

 

 

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