Working night shift while pregnant??

[donnak28]

Hi there,

I am desperately after some advice and hope someone can help me, I am currently 11 weeks pregnant and work nights at a very well known supermarket. The shifts are 10 hours long (9PM - 7AM) and my job does involve a lot of lifting, bending, sitting on floors trying to fill bottom shelves??

No one at work seems to worried that I am doing this but I was wondering if I have any rights about my working conditions, they expect me to just crack on with my work with no exceptions being made, can they do this??

Many thanks in advance

[hc4361]

Good information here
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/foradvis ers/EocLaw/EocLawSco/Maternityandparentalright s/Commonproblemareas/Pages/HealthandSafety.asp x

[bednobs]

hi donna, good link there, which basically says they cant make you do anything unsafe. However, how a 10 hour shift is unsafe, or bending, or lifting or sitting on the floor is unsafe is beyond me.

I don't think it's unreasonable for them to expect you to continue with these duties for as long as you can comfortably do them. When you are very preg it might be difficult for you to lift safely because you wont be able to take the weight near your body, as the bump will get in the way. It might become hard for you to get up if you are sitting on the floor, and at that point it would be silly of them to expect you to do it.

the employer should carry out a risk assessment with you to identify the parts of your job that will become more risky

[Velvetee]

I take it your employers know you are pregnant? Employers are obliged to do a risk assessment with you, in order to minimise or eliminate any risks to you and your unborn child, which may be as a result of your job.

I'm 29 weeks pregnant and my line manager did a risk assessment in my first and second trimester, I will be required to have another during my third.

I work in a gym, which involves working shifts and on the late shift, involves lugging very heavy weights back onto their stands. I have been told I am not allowed to lift any weights or bend at the waist. I also no longer do the late shifts.

Your employer should also provide somewhere where you can rest, as and when needed. You should speak to your Personnel Department. Possibly your line manager is ignorant of what he or she is required to do.

[jessbuc1]

hi donna .well for starters you should not be doing eny of what you have mentioned because the first few weeks of pregnancy you need to rest as all the ligaments in your back relax due to hormone changes so you could really do some damage to yourself,secandly what sellfish people you work with if i worked with you id make sure you were on light dutties.go to your nearist citizens advice beurux and find out what your rights are in work while pregnant,but please be carefull at work and only do what YOU think is safe to do.the best of luck.jxxx

[jessbuc1]

and i diddnt say it was unsafe i said she should be carefull especially with lifting,and sitting on the floor is fine but bending and lifting heavy things is unsafe because my widwife told nme it can put a reasanable amount of straighn on the back