Northumbria University
General Risk Assessment Form 2017
DATE: ASSESSOR:
ASSESSMENT AREA/ACTIVITY: New and Expectant Mothers
Item No.
Activity/equipment/
Hazard
materials, etc.
1 Movement and posture Postural problems can
arise at different stages of
pregnancy depending on
the individual and the
working conditions.
These problems may
increase as the
pregnancy develops.
Backache: A pregnant
woman may require more
workspace or adapt the
way she works. As
pregnancy changes the
shape and size and ways
a woman can move,
stand, sit for a long time in
comfort and safety will
also change.
Pregnancy specific
changes can pose a
relatively high risk to
thrombosis or embolism,
particularly with constant
sitting. In later stages of
pregnancy women are
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LOCATION:
Note: Add or delete hazards and controls as appropriate to the individual
Final Result*
Likelihood
Severity
Risk Rating
Persons at H 20-36 Control Measures Required
risk M 12-18 Suggest Controls
L 1-10 (On completion of risk review calculate final risk rating)
New and 4 3 M=12 Ensure rest area is available and the ability to
Expectant take longer or more frequent rest breaks if
Mothers required.
In relation to abdominal change in size, as
pregnancy develops regular progress reviews will
be necessary.
Avoid long periods spent handling loads or
standing or sitting with regular exercise or
movement to maintain health circulation.
Avoid long periods spent handling loads or
standing or sitting with regular exercise or
movement to maintain health circulation.
Provide opportunity to alternate between standing
and sitting.
Mental and Physical ability: Long working hours,
shift work and night work can effect on the health
of expectant mothers, associated risks may vary
however both mental and physical fatigue
increases during pregnancy. Regular
Occupational health reviews need to be put in
 more likely to experience place.
backache, which can be
intensified by remaining in
a specific position for a
period of time

Circulation problems due Provide opportunity to alternate between standing

to extended periods of and sitting.
sitting
Review situation as pregnancy progresses.

2 Lifting and handling of Risk of a range of manual New and Avoid handling bulky stationery and other loads.
bulky stationery and handling injuries such as Expectant
other loads strains or sprains. Injuries Mothers Team to be updated and request that bulky
may be traumatic from 4 3 M=12 stationery and other loads are collected by
one off incidents or alternative members.
cumulative in nature.

3 Working Conditions and Prolonged exposure to New and Desk fan can be sourced to enable control of
Environment hot temperatures may Expectant temperature.
result in heat stress Mothers
Consider if the following and/or dehydration. Provide Unrestricted access to drinking water.
are significant Manual
handling, Driving, Poor Risk of physical and Ensure rest area is available and the ability to
or Prolonged Working mental tiredness. take longer or more frequent rest breaks if
Postures, Lone working, required.
Administration of
medication, Night work, Difficulty of evacuation Advise students living in University
Shift work from an area in an accommodation to inform Accommodation of
emergency. 3 4 M=12 pregnancy.
If pregnant woman experiences mobility problems
Small / limited Lack of ability to move or would have difficulty evacuating by stairs (e.g.
workspace, Exposure to quickly or cope with stairs towards the later stages of pregnancy) arrange a
excessive temperatures, in the event of a practice Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan for the
lack of rest facilities. evacuation or actual individual in consultation with the Student health
Exposure to hazardous incident requiring and wellbeing).
substances, Body fluid evacuation.
spillages For field trips it may be necessary to advise the
accommodation provider and arrange for the
pregnant woman to be located in a room on a
lower floor.
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4 General Workload
5 Use of Display Screen
Equipment
Working with Hazardous
Substances
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Occupational Stress.
Psychological ill health
related illnesses.
Physical Ill health related
symptoms.
Slips, trips and falls,
Miscarriage, Fainting,
foetal lesions, inability to
take adequate breaks /
rest, Communicable
disease infection
Small / limited workspace,
Exposure to excessive
temperatures, lack of rest
facilities. Exposure to
hazardous substances,
Body fluid spillages.
Postural/ergonomic
problems due to changes
in body proportions.
Some chemicals are
specifically toxic to the
developing fetus or
breastfeeding child.
Safety data sheet will
show risk phrases or
hazard statements
(prefixed with ‘H’ instead
of ‘R’), such as the
New and In relation to abdominal change in size, as
Expectant pregnancy develops regular progress reviews
Mothers And one to one meetings to be used to identify
and resolve any areas of concern.
Weekly team meetings to be used to review
current workload and distribute tasks evenly
between team members.
4 4 M=16
New and Review DSE assessment and make appropriate A
Expectant changes to workstation equipment.
Mothers
Consider workstations that cannot be altered to
take into account increased abdominal size,
4 3 M=12 particularly during the later stages of pregnancy.
This can lead to strain or sprain injuries. Dexterity,
agility, co-ordination, speed of movement, reach
and balance may also be impaired and an
increase risk of accidents may need to be
considered
New and 4 5 H=20 A COSHH assessment should already be in place.
Expectant This must be re-assessed immediately and
Mothers thereafter regularly reviewed as the pregnancy
progresses.
Refer to relevant risk phrases
Work with substances which may present a
significant risk to the mother and/or child must be
 following examples:
• R40: Limited evidence of
carcinogenic effects
• R45: May cause cancer
• R46: May cause
heritable genetic damage
• R49: May cause cancer
by inhalation
• R61: May cause harm to
the unborn child
• R63: Possible risk of
harm to the unborn child
• R64: May cause harm to
breastfed babies
• R68: Possible risk of
irreversible affects
Work with biological Biological agents that are
materials including present a specific risk to
micro-organisms / GM pregnancy.
work
Potential increased risk of
infection due to possible
effects of pregnancy on
the immune system.
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avoided – remove the mother from specific high
risk activities as appropriate.
Contact the Occupational Health Unit for general
advice if necessary.
If an individual has to work with any substance as
part of their studies or research, for which there is
a risk to the unborn or breastfed child, this will be
detailed in the COSHH risk assessment
associated with the student’s work
The result of combining substances which creates
a new substance should also have been
considered.
Female students should be informed of the risk
before they start working with the substance and
advised to notify her immediate contact if they are
or become at risk.
The pregnant or breastfeeding student should
inform her immediate contact as soon as possible.
The supervisor must review the COSHH
assessment with the students and agree whether
more stringent control measures are needed.
If additional controls are needed they should be
recorded and implemented.
New and An assessment of the work with biological agents
Expectant should be in place and should be reviewed re-
Mothers assessed immediately. Frequent reviewed as the
pregnancy develops to consider pathogens which
present an additional risk in pregnancy.
Consider risks associated with chemo-therapeutic
4 5 H=20 agents used to treat laboratory acquired
infections.
Consider vaccination issues and discuss with the
Occupational Health Nurse/ Student Health and
Wellbeing as required.
Contact the Central Health and Safety Team for
specific advice if necessary.
 Exposure to Infection, foetal lesions,
Communicable Miscarriage
Diseases:. Hepatitis B,
TB, HIV, Chickenpox Blood borne infections
etc. For a more through contact with blood
comprehensive list refer or bodily fluids. There is a
to the Pregnant Workers small risk that the infected
and Nursing Mothers mother could pass the
Exposure to infectious infection to the baby
diseases during childbirth.
Mumps and Rubella can
spread among the student
population because of
lesser requirements for
inoculation in other
countries, greater social
mixing and living in close
proximity. Can cause
miscarriage or birth
defects.
Work with ionising Increase skin sensitivity
radiation during pregnancy can
increase the risk of
burning when exposed to
UV light.
Working close to
significant sources of
EMF could cause
warming or burns.
Strong magnetic fields
can cause ferrous based
metal items to become
projectiles that may enter
the body and damage the
mother and/or unborn
child.
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New and Awareness of
Expectant https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/syste
Mothers m/uploads/attachment_data/file/522337/Guidan
ce_on_infection_control_in_schools.pdf
(universal infection control procedures)
Pregnant staff in direct contact with someone with
a potentially infectious rash (e.g. chicken pox,
measles, rubella etc.) to seek advice from their
GP / midwife.
Ensure good washing facilities and robust hygiene
controls when carrying out fieldwork in areas
3 5 M=15 where there is a potential risk of infection.
Provision of appropriate standard of gloves or
alcohol based hand sanitizers where necessary.
Those working in health care are most at risk,
however use of standard hygiene precautions will
control the risk.
The pregnant woman should check her immune
status with her doctor and, if necessary have an
MMR vaccination. See Student Support advice on
Measles, Mumps and Rubella for further
information.
New and 3 4 M=15 An assessment of work with ionising radiation
Expectant should already be in place and this should be re-
Mothers assessed.
Contact the local Radiation Protection
Supervisor / University Radiation Protection
Adviser as per Code of Practice (Seek detail and
advice form Central Health and Safety Team).
Contact the Occupational Health Nurse/ Student
Health and Wellbeing for general advice if
necessary.
Pregnant women who are likely to be exposed to
or interact with these hazards need to follow
current risk control measures. If in doubt

Other hazardous Physically demanding
activities. activities (e.g. theatre
performances), working at
height (e.g. technical
theatre work),
adventurous activities etc.
General Pregnancy risk Nausea / vomiting, Aches
and pains, Bleeding,
Restricted movement.
Risk of stress, slips, trips
and falls, tiredness
Miscarriage, Stress,
medical complications.
Physical / verbal assault,
Communicable disease
infection, Miscarriage,
Stress, Vulnerability
Poor access to welfare
facilities: Morning
sickness early in
pregnancy, need to visit
lavatory more frequently,
need to rest.
Lack of private facility for
mothers returning to work
to express milk and store
this whilst working or
studying at the University.
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Faculty/Department should seek advice from as
listed above.
New and Review risk assessment for hazardous activity
Expectant with immediate contact or person responsible for
Mothers activity to determine whether work can be
adjusted or alternatives identified. For some study
3 3 L=9 programmes it may not be possible to continue
with the course past a certain stage of pregnancy
and so intermitting may be necessary. Regular
review will be necessary.
New and 4 3 M=12 The University must take into account any medical
Expectant advice from the pregnant woman GP or midwife
Mothers about your health and discuss associated risks
and controls.
Adequate Resting facilities available.
Hygiene facilities: There are sufficient toilets and
associated hygiene facilities available.
Adequate onsite arrangements for nutrition and
liquid refreshments. Also that she is able to take
breaks as and when required
Contact with known or potentially violent clients
should be prevented wherever possible for
duration of pregnancy.
Mental / Physical fatigue and study hours:
currently able to cope with her study workload and
working hours regular reviews as pregnancy
develops
Advise student of location of welfare and rest
facilities, including those for mothers who are
breastfeeding and agree any bespoke
arrangements for breaks.
Given the provisions of the gender equality duty of

UK based work Hazards associated with
placements. work placement. Travel
to/from work placement.
Extensive Travel Fatigue, nausea (in early
pregnancy); carrying
research
equipment/luggage or
research/work equipment
may need consideration,
particularly for long trips.
Extensive travelling,
particularly at busy times
or across time zones may
increase stress.
Driving may be difficult in
very late pregnancy due
to possible difficulty of
reaching vehicle controls.
Access to health care,
health risks, working in
remote areas, poor
travelling conditions.
Risk will vary greatly
depending on nature of
trip and country being
visited.
Fieldwork and working More frequent toilet
in remote areas with breaks may be required
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the Sex Discrimination Act 1976 (as amended)
and those of the Equality Act 2010, HEIs should
consider the breastfeeding facilities available for
student use. The Equality Act 2010 explicitly
protects students from less favourable treatment
because of breastfeeding.
New and Review the requirements of the work placement
Expectant and whether these will still be suitable for the
Mothers pregnant woman. If the pregnant woman wishes
to continue with the work placement, the host
2 3 L=6 employer will need to be informed and they will
need to carry out a risk assessment. This is a
legal requirement in the UK where a student is
training for employment.
New and Review whether proposed overseas travel is still
Expectant appropriate or whether less “risky” placement may
Mothers be possible refer to
https://one.northumbria.ac.uk/staff/pages/dash
board.aspx
The pregnant woman should consult her Doctor
before undertaking long distance travel. If Student
Support has concerns ask the student to provide a
confirmation letter from her Doctor that it is safe to
travel.
4 5 H=20 Student should research health facilities and
potential health/security risks in area being visited.
Also refer to FCO advice relating to Country
being visited.
Check that travel insurance covers pregnancy
related medical care.
New and 4 3 M=12 These areas should already be covered by the
Expectant risk assessment for fieldwork.
 Limited access to toilet during pregnancy; fatigue Mothers
and rest facilities. may be an issue during Review with Group Leader and confirm whether
pregnancy. Pregnant and planned arrangements are adequate or whether
Poor communications. breastfeeding mothers additional measures may be needed.
Access to emergency may need more frequent
first aid. access to rest and toilet
facilities.
There is an increased risk
that a pregnant student
may need emergency first
aid for a pregnancy
related problem or
following an accident.
Work/study activities in Contact with certain New and Pregnant women who do not know whether they
close contact with childhood diseases (e.g. Expectant have been immunised against common childhood
babies and young Chickenpox, Mothers diseases should consult their doctor.
children. Slapped cheek syndrome, Should a pregnant woman become aware that
3 4 M=12
Cytomegalovirus) during they have been in contact with an infected
pregnancy may put individual or should she develop a rash she
unborn child at risk of should contact her doctor/midwife without delay.
harm.

Northumbria University – Risk Assessment Form

To be completed by the Manager undertaking the risk assessment

Name: Job Title:

Signature: Date:

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To be completed by the Senior Manager

As Pregnancy is not a static condition and the nature and degree of risk will change as the pregnancy develops, risk assessment to be reviewed on a regular
basis in agreement with the pregnant individual, or sooner if any significant change.

Pregnant should inform their UNN contact of any changes in their condition that may be relevant to their pregnancy and their safety at UNN.

I consider this risk assessment to be suitable and sufficient to control the risks to the health & safety of both employees undertaking the tasks and any other
person who may be affected by the activities.

Name: Job Title:

Signature: Date:

NB – Upon return to work, a discussion with the new mother should take place to review the adequacy of the above risk assessment,
thereby ensuring currency and continual improvement.
If Senior Managers do not agree that the risk assessment is suitable and sufficient then the assessment must be reviewed.

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