WO toolkit 2012 complete.pdf - GMB

SECTION 5.22
22. Am I entitled to antenatal care and/or health and safety protection?
Antenatal care
All women employees,irrespective of service or hours worked are entitled to paid time off during
normal working hours for antenatal care.You should be paid at your normal rate of pay and for any
travelling and waiting time in attending your appointment.Antenatal care can include parentcraft and
relaxation classes,provided they are taken on the advice of your midwife or doctor.After your first
appointment,your employer has the right to ask for evidence of further appointments.
Health and safety protection
All women,irrespective of service or hours worked,are entitled to health and safety protection.
Employers must assess the risks to health and safety of any new or expectant mother or her baby or
where he employs women of childbearing age.If you are pregnant or breastfeeding,you should request
a health and safety risk assessment in writing.Your employer must:
1. Carry out a risk assessment of any processes or working conditions,physical,chemical and
biological agents which could jeopardise your health and/or that of your baby while you are
pregnant,breastfeeding or if you have given birth within the previous six months.
2. If a significant risk is established,your employer must do all that is reasonable to remove it or
prevent your exposure to it.
3. Tell you about the risk and what steps are being taken to deal with it.Your employer should take
account of any reasonable fears that you have.You may find it useful to discuss your concerns with
your midwife or doctor first.
4. If the risk cannot be avoided,your employer should,if it is reasonable to do so temporarily alter
your working conditions or hours of work; or if this is not possible or does not remove the risk
5. Offer you suitable alternative work if available(on terms and conditions not substantially less
favourable); or this is not available
6. Suspend you on full pay for as long as is necessary to avoid the risk.
If you work nights and your doctor or midwife provides a medical certificate stating that you should
not be working at night for health and safety grounds,you employer should offer you day work.If this is
not available,you should be suspended on full pay.
Breastfeeding
Although there is no right to breastfeed at work,as a breastfeeding mother,you have special health
and safety protection at work under the same rules that protect pregnant women.Breastfeeding
includes expressing milk.If you are still breastfeeding when you return to work,notify your employer in
writing and ask for a health and safety risk assessment.