Step by step: reducing the risks for pregnant women

• Lifting and handling tasks - hormonal changes can affect the ligaments, increasing susceptibility to injury, and postural problems may increase as the pregnancy progresses.

• Shocks, vibration and movement - low frequency vibration e.g.driving or riding in off-road vehicles, or excessive movement, may increase the risk of miscarriage and long-term exposure to vibration - often associated with heavy physical work - may increase the risk of prematurity or low birth weight.

• Noise - prolonged exposure to loud noise may lead to increased blood pressure and tiredness.

• Harmful substances - there are a large number of substances that are harmful to the mother and/or her foetus, all fall within the scope of the COSHH Regulations. Particular attention must be paid to those substances in the risk categories associated with genetic or foetal damage; an to the use of cytotoxic materials, pesticides, mercury compounds, lead compounds

Exposure

• Biological agents - many biological agents e.g.bacteria, viruses, parasites, can affect the unborn child if the mother is infected during pregnancy. For most workers, the risk of infection is not higher at work than from living in the community; but in certain occupations e.g. laboratory workers and in health care, exposure to infections is more likely. These risks are also dealt with under the COSHH Regulations, assessments must indicate controls to eliminate the risk or remove the mother from exposure.

• Radiations - significant exposure to ionising radiations can be harmful to the foetus and this is recognised by placing limits on the external radiation dose to the abdomen of the expectant mother for the term of her pregnancy. Contamination with radioactive liquids or dusts may also pose a risk to the foetus or the child. Work procedures must be designed to keep exposure to the mother and child as low as reasonably practicable. The Ionising Radiations Regulations lay down stringent conditions to ensure that these procedures are established and adhered to. Non-ionising radiations, so far as is known, do not pose a risk to new or expectant mothers.

• Temperatures - when pregnant, women tolerate heat less well and may more readily faint or be liable to heat stress. Breast feeding may be impaired by heat dehydration. Rest facilities and access to refreshments will help in this situation.