PREGNANCY AND COVID-19 – ADVICE TO MEMBERS
Never before have the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999 been so important to pregnant women who work in the transport industry. Under these regulations:
1. Employers must try to remove or prevent exposure to risks
2. If that is not possible, working from home should be allowed
3. If that is not possible, suitable alternative employment at the same rate of pay should be offered if available
4. If none of this is possible, pregnant women must be suspended from work on full pay for as long as necessary.
The obligation for a risk assessment for all working pregnant women is made clear in the guidance by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. This is linked on the government’s website (Gov.uk) Covid-19 guidance page, under the title Health and Wellbeing – Guidance on pregnancy and coronavirus:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/
Do note that detailed information is also provided by the specialist group Maternity Action:
https://maternityaction.org.uk/covidmaternityfaqs/
Please make the contents of this Circular available to all appropriate members.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash