Employers have both a moral and legal duty to manage the health and safety of new and expectant mothers in their workforce and ensure they are not exposed to workplace hazards or working conditions that might present a risk to themselves or their babies. This article from Croner-i covers what employers must do to ensure that they assess the risks adequately and comply with their obligations.

Under the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974, employers have a general duty to protect the health and safety of their workers, including female employees who may be expecting babies or who have recently had a child. In addition to their general duty to assess and minimise risks in the workplace, employers also have additional specific health and safety duties where pregnant women or new mothers are concerned.

For instance, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) include: