New-&-Expectant-Students-Updated-Nov-11

OF THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH & WELLBEINGThe University of Wolverhampton is aware of the potential susceptibility of new and expectant mothers to certain risks that may arise during their stud

OF THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH & WELLBEING

The University of Wolverhampton is aware of the potential susceptibility of new and expectant mothers to certain risks that may arise during their studies and course related work All reasonably practicable steps will be taken to safeguard the health and safety of expectant mothers and their unborn children, as described below

Whilst on University course placements, additional considerations

regarding NHS Trust / Clinical Placement Provider requirements must be investigated by each individual new or expectant mother Students must abide by all statutory and placement requirements

The School has elected to give consideration to students attending their course of studies It is each student’s personal responsibility to explore NHS Trust / Clinical Placement Provider Policy requirements with regard to their practical experiences as they apply to them

All Students of the School

A “new and expectant mother” is defined in law as a worker who is

pregnant, who has given birth within the previous six months, or who is breastfeeding

“Given birth” is defined as having delivered a living child or, after 24 weeks

of pregnancy, a stillborn child

Risk Assessment (RA) is a legal requirement as specified in the

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 There is an individual and ongoing need to take account of the physiological changes during pregnancy

NHS Trust / Clinical Placement Provider Policy

RA Checklist – Appendix 1

Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov 2011

http://asp2.wlv.ac.uk/hs/policies/RSH%20Policy%20-%20New%20and

%20expectant%20mothers.pdf

6.1 Notification of Pregnancy – Student’s Duty

 Any female student studying with the School, at the University, has the responsibility to notify their personal tutor

or course leader in writing that she is an expectant mother Only then does the School assess the added risks to the expectant mother

 The student should pass on any advice from her registered medical practitioner or midwife that could affect the

assessment of her risk at University, or during practice / clinical educational placements

6.2 Notification of Birth – Student’s Duty

 Newly appointed female students on courses should notify their personal tutor or course leader if they have given birth within the previous six months or are breastfeeding If any employee continues to breastfeed for more than six months, she must notify her personal tutor or course leader so that this will be included in any generic RA

6.3 Risk Assessment

 Immediately after notification by a student that she is pregnant or commencing / returning to studies within six months of giving birth or whilst breast feeding, a specific and individual RA must be completed by the personal tutor or appointed person

 This must be reviewed with the expectant or recently delivered student and the appropriate identified actions applied Additional advice may be sought from the Occupational Health Adviser

 It is noted that risks may arise from several sources including physical, biological, chemical agents, working conditions and processes

 The RA should be regularly revisited to ensure that any changes in the condition of the expectant/new mother are dealt with

The physiological changes must be taken into account when assessing the risks, these might include:

 morning sickness;

 backache associated with prolonged periods of sitting or manual handling;

 haemorrhoids and varicose veins associated with posture;

 ready and easy access to toilets;

 increasing tiredness as the pregnancy develops;

 balance as size increases;

 tiredness due to disturbed nights;

 ready and easy access to private facilities for lactation purposes;

 separation anxiety

 The purpose of completing the RA is to develop awareness of personal and professional requirements for safety for the individual student and the educational institution Each party can identify appropriate and reasonable measures that may

be taken, need to control reduce or eliminate risk and, by acting on the findings, to demonstrate that personal and institutional duty of care has been fulfilled High-risk work/activities should not be carried out until suitable controls are introduced, the work should only proceed when any

remaining risks are acceptable

6.4 Specific Hazards and Risks

 The following are some of the main specific hazards that are associated with new and expectant mothers at work that may need to be eliminated or else adequately controlled The RA should consider these and any others that may be identified within an area of work The medical condition of each new / expectant mother needs to be considered on the basis of advice from her doctor or midwife where necessary

Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov 2011

 slips, trips and falls – the increasing size of a pregnant woman may adversely affect her balance, so slippery or uneven stairs, floors, paths etc are a particular concern;

 standing or sitting for long periods;

 mechanical – vibrations/movement – including travel;

 manual Handling – lifting, twisting, etc.;

 excessive noise;

 exposure to radiation – non-ionising and ionising;

 extremes of temperature;

 infectious or contagious disease, e.g German measles, Listeriosis;

 harmful substances – exposure to other people’s tobacco smoke, lead, organic mercury chemicals;

 display screen equipment – IT work stations;

 working hours – duration per day, late and night working (suspension on medical certificate);

 work-related stress – working conditions, excessive workloads, travel during rush hour

6.5 Preventative and Protective Action

 If a risk remains after reasonable preventative and protective actions were taken, then the personal tutor or appointed person, the pregnant worker, Personnel services and the appropriate Occupational Health Advisor must liaise to consider other alternatives to control or reduce the identified risk

These should include:

 Adjusting the studying / working conditions or hours if it is reasonable to do so and would avoid the risks

Or, if these conditions cannot be met

 Identifying and offering suitable alternative course consideration

 Besides undertaking an individual RA for an expectant or new mother undertaking a nursing or midwifery course, the School

in conjunction with the student, will as far as is reasonably practicable act on all information and findings as described above, and where possible provide the pregnant or nursing mother with suitable rest facilities This in practice can be any type of room that can provide a clean and private environment, i.e First Aid room, empty office

Any place of study of work can present extra hazards to pregnant women and new mothers The following checklist will help to identify some of these It is divided into four sections; these consider the physical and mental student role demands, and the general and specific consideration within the study

environment There are blank sections for the inclusion of individual student specific considerations Actions should be identified where risk concerns are highlighted

The final page of this section identifies the storing and follow-up

requirements in relation to this document.

t Y/N Risk Concern

Y/N

Action / Comments

Does the work involve:

Lifting or pushing of heavy

objects, e.g skills session?

Standing or sitting for long

periods?

A lot of walking?

The need to access areas with

limited space?

Will any attendance become

more hazardous due to the

worker’s changing shape and

size?

Does the study attendance

involve very early or late hours?

Does clinical placement work

involve night duty?

Has the student contacted her

clinical placement site for a Trust

/ Clinical Educational Placement

RA?

Does the job involve meeting

challenging deadlines?

Does the role involve rapidly

changing priorities and

demands?

Does the role require a high

degree of challenge?

Is there any pregnancy related or

separation anxiety?

Are late or long driving hours

required?

Are toilet facilities easily

available for the pregnant

student?

Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov 2011

Y/N

Are students able to take toilet

breaks when necessary?

Can the student take rest breaks

when needed?

Can the student control her pace

of work/study?

Are there any risks of violence?

Does any part of the role involve

dealing with the public?

Does the role involve:

 Contact with sick or young

people?

 Unpredictable working

hours?

 Dealing with emergencies?

Are there any obstacles in

corridors, classrooms etc that

could cause problems for

pregnant women e.g in the

event of a fire?

Is there any form of indoor air

pollution, i.e fumes etc, which

might be hazardous?

Is the environmental

temperature reasonable?

Do the seating arrangements

etc, give the pregnant student

sufficient space?

Is there any study adjustments

needed to accommodate the

pregnant student?

Are there any clinical placement

uniform requirements?

Are there any statutory and / or

placement requirements that

apply?

Does any part of the role involve

the use of chemicals?

Does the student need any

specific protective clothing or

equipment?

Is there any requirement for

prolonged periods of restricted

activity / mobility?

t Y/N Risk Concern

Y/N

Action

Is there any risk of exposure to

Has the student developed any

pregnancy associated symptoms

or conditions that might affect

her ability to continue in her

current role?

For the breast feeding mother is

there:

 Private and secure area to

express breast milk if

required

 Safe and secure area to

store expressed breast

milk if required

 Correct labeling for any

stored expressed breast

milk if required

Review date arranged as

required

This checklist has been completed to the best of my knowledge, and

agreed in my presence

Name of Student:

………

Signature:

………

Name of SHaW Staff Member:

………

Signature:

………

Date completed: ……… Date for Action/Review:

………

Copy for student file Student copy

Notification to Site Manager slip sent Date …………

………

………

Notification to Site Manager of Risk Assessment form for New & Expectant

Mothers for Student Name ……… Student

Number………

Y / N

Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov 2011 Centre……… Activation Date……….Review

Date………

Completed by……… Specific

Comments………