Pregnancy and Nursing
General
Many women work during pregnancy and many return to work while they are still breastfeeding. The objective of this code is to provide guidelines for the protection of the health of women against potential hazards in their work environment during pregnancy, after the birth of a child and while breastfeeding.
Identification and Assessment of Hazards
Physical Hazards
The control of physical hazards in the workplace includes:
- the recognition, evaluation and control of exposure to noise, vibration, radiation, electric and electromagnetic fields and/or radioactive substances
- Work in extreme environments
- Control of the thermal environment (heating and air conditioning).
Schedule 1 describes the extent to which certain of these physical agents may constitute a hazard to your health and safety if you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding as well as suggestions methods to prevent or control these hazards.
Ergonomic Hazards
The application of ergonomics involves ensuring that work systems are designed to meet your needs for health, safety and comfort. A range of ergonomic risk factors may pose as hazards to your health and safety if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and should be identified and assessed as part of the risk assessment programme.
These include:
- Heavy physical work
- Static work posture
- Frequent bending and twisting
- Lifting heavy objects and movements requiring force
- Repetitive work
- Awkward postures
- No rest
- Standing for long periods
- Sitting for long periods.
Schedule 2 describes the extent to which some of these factors may constitute as hazards to your health and safety if you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, as well as suggestions methods to prevent or control these hazards.
Hazard Schedules
Schedule 1 - Physical Hazards
| Hazard | What is the risk? | How to avoid the risk? |
|---|---|---|
| Vibration and mechanical shocks | Long-term exposure to vibrations may increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Exposure to shocks or whole body vibrations in the later stages of pregnancy can result in premature labour. | It is advised that pregnant workers and those that have recently given birth avoid work that is likely to involve uncomfortable, whole body vibrations, especially at low frequencies, or where the abdomen is exposed to shocks or jolts. |
| Noise | Prolonged exposure to noise can elevate the blood pressure of pregnant women and lead to tiredness. | Glucode should ensure compliance with regulation 7 of the Environmental Regulations for Workplaces, OHSA. |
Schedule 2 - Ergonomic Hazards
| Hazard | What is the risk? | How to avoid the risk? |
|---|---|---|
| Physical and mental strain | Excessive physical or mental pressure may cause stress and give rise to anxiety and raised blood pressure during pregnancy. | Glucode should ensure that hours of work and the volume and pace of work are not excessive and that, where practical, you have some measure of control over how your work is organised. Seating should be available where appropriate. Longer or more frequent rest breaks will help to avoid or reduce fatigue. |
| Physically strenuous work | Employees whose work is physically strenuous should be considered to be at increased risk of injury when pregnant or after the birth of a child. | Heavy physical exertion, including the lifting or handling of heavy loads, should be avoided from early pregnancy onwards. |
| Prolonged sitting and standing | Sitting or standing for long periods during pregnancy can have serious health consequences. Standing for long unbroken periods can result in complications during pregnancy such as deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, premature labour and even miscarriage. | <p>Workstations should be adjustable to allow for necessary changes in posture. </p><p>Pregnant employees who sit for long periods should be provided with a proper chair with a lumbar support rest to prevent lower back pain. A footrest could alleviate pain and discomfort in the case of both sitting and standing workers. </p><p>Pregnant employees who work in a stationary position should be given frequent rest breaks. Mobility during breaks should be encouraged to help prevent swelling of the ankles and improve blood circulation. </p><p>Where work organisation permits task rotation, this should be done to allow the worker to do tasks that involve standing, sitting and moving. </p> |
Compliance
Legislation
The Constitution protects the right to bodily and psychological integrity, which includes the right to make decisions concerning reproduction [section 12(2)] and gives every person the right to health services, including reproductive health care [section 27(1)(a)].
You may not be discriminated against or dismissed on account of pregnancy.
Glucode must
- provide and maintain a work environment that is safe and without risk to the health of employees. This includes risks to the reproductive health of employees. These duties are established in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) 85 of 1993.
- conduct a risk assessment, which involves identifying hazards, assessing the risk that they pose to the health and safety of employees and recording the results of the risk assessment
- implement appropriate measures to eliminate or control hazards identified in the risk assessment.
- supply you with information about and train them in the risks to their health and safety, and the measures taken to eliminate or minimise them.
Warning
You have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect your own health and safety, and that of other employees.