9.1 - New and Expectant Mothers v3.0 English

Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health System
Framework
(OSHAD-SF)
Code of Practice
CoP 9.1 – New and Expectant Mothers
Version 3.0
July 2016
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3
2. Training and Competency........................................................................................................... 4
3. Requirements ............................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................................. 5
3.2 Risk Assessment – Additional Requirements ..................................................................... 6
3.3 Considerations for Breastfeeding Mothers ......................................................................... 6
4. References ................................................................................................................................. 8
5. Document Amendment Record .................................................................................................. 9
Appendix 1: List of Examples of Agents/Hazards, Risks and Control Measures in the Workplace....... 10
Appendix 2: Common Health Aspects in Pregnancy ........................................................................... 16
OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

st
CoP 9.1 – New and Expectant Mothers – Version 3.0 – 1 July 2016 Page 2 of 18
1. Introduction
(a) This Code of Practice (CoP) applies to all employers within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This
CoP is designed to incorporate requirements set by UAE and Abu Dhabi Regulatory
Authorities. If requirements of this document conflict with requirements set by another
regulatory authority, employers are required to follow the more stringent requirement.
(b) The requirements set out within this CoP are intended to specify the general requirements
for providing protection to new and expectant mothers. Specific requirements aligned to this
CoP are referenced within.
(c) New or expectant mother is defined as an employee who is pregnant; who has given birth to
a living child within the previous six months; or who is breastfeeding.

st
2. Training and Competency
(a) Employers shall ensure that OSH training complies with the requirements of:
(i) OSHAD-SF – Element 5 – Training, Awareness and Competency;

(ii) OSHAD-SF – Mechanism 7.0 – OSH Professional Entity Registration; and
(iii) OSHAD-SF – Mechanism 8.0 – OSH Practitioner Registration.
(b) OSH personnel shall be educated on occupational hazards for new and expectant mothers.
Training can be classroom, distance learning, or from books.
(c) New and expectant mothers shall receive training on workplace hazards with special
consideration for prenatal and postnatal conditions.

st
3. Requirements
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities
3.1.1 Employers
(a) Employers shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the general
requirements of OSHAD-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-Regulation
Section 3.2.5.
(b) Employers shall be responsible for performing a risk assessment in accordance with
OSHAD-SF – Element 2 – Risk Management to determine the risks associated with new
and expectant mothers and ensure that appropriate control measures are put in place to
eliminate and mitigate hazards.
(c) Employers shall ensure all female staff of child bearing capacity are informed of any
significant risk that could affect pregnancy, childbirth, or breast feeding associated with the
workplace.
(d) Employers shall ensure appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision is
provided to the new and expectant mothers on the health effects of any chemicals, work
procedures, and equipment used or to be used.
(e) Employers provide the opportunity for any nominated employee health and safety
representatives to participate in the risk assessment and implementation of control
measures.
3.1.2 Employees
(a) Employees shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the general
requirements of OSHAD-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-Regulation
Section 3.2.7.
(b) Employees shall notify the employer about pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding as early as
reasonably practicable. This shall be a written notification and be accompanied by a
certificate, stating expected week of childbirth, from a registered medical practitioner.
(c) Employees shall cooperate, as required, with their employer when undertaking the risk
assessment process.
(d) Employees shall comply with any systems or control measures introduced following the
outcome of the risk assessment process so as to eliminate or reduce risks.
(e) Employees shall notify their employer immediately of any changes to their condition or
health which might impact upon the risk assessment process.
(f) Employees shall report to the employer any concerns they have in relation to their work.

st
3.2 Risk Assessment – Additional Requirements
(a) When performing risk assessments in accordance with OSHAD-SF – Element 2 – Risk
Management, employers shall:
(i) take into account how pregnant women may be affected by risks from work activities or
working conditions;
(ii) conduct a workspace specific risk assessment when a new, expectant or
breastfeeding mother notifies the employer of the situation;
(iii) notify new, expectant and breastfeeding mothers of the control measures put in place
to prevent hazardous conditions and improve worksite safety and health; and
(iv) refer to Appendix 1 List of Example of Agents/Hazards, Risk and Control Measures in
the Workplace, and Appendix 2 – Common Health Aspects in Pregnancy, when
undertaking risk assessments.
(b) If a risk is identified which has the potential to have a significant effect upon a new,
expectant, or breastfeeding mother, and effective control measures cannot be enacted, one
or more of the following actions shall be taken:
(i) adjust the working conditions and/or hours the new, expectant or breastfeeding
mother;
(ii) identify alternative work (if available); or
(iii) find alternative work outside the place of employment, at the same pay and benefits,
that will remove the new, expectant, or breastfeeding mother from exposure to
hazardous chemicals or work conditions.
(c) Risk assessment shall be regularly reviewed to ensure that any changes in the condition of
the new, expectant or breastfeeding mother are addressed. At a minimum, they shall be
reviewed:
(i) when notified of a new, expectant, or breastfeeding mother;

(ii) 24 weeks of pregnancy;
(iii) 34 weeks of pregnancy;
(iv) when returning to work after birth; and
(v) anytime there is a change to the new, expectant or breastfeeding mother’s health,
medication and/or the working environment.
3.3 Considerations for Breastfeeding Mothers
(a) Employers shall ensure that employees who are breastfeeding are not exposed to hazards
or chemicals that could damage health or safety of an infant/child for as long as they
continue to breastfeed.
(b) Employers shall provide a private room for breastfeeding mother to extract breast milk and a
refrigerated location specifically for storage of extracted breast milk.

st
(c) Employers shall provide appropriate rest, meal and refreshment breaks for women who
have given birth in the previous six months and/or are breastfeeding.

st
4. References
• OSHAD-SF – Element 1 –Roles, Responsibilities and Self-Regulation
• OSHAD-SF – Element 2 – Risk Management
• Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 2005, New and Expectant Mothers at Work
• Guidelines for Health and Safety. New and Expectant Mothers at work. Occupational Safety
and Health Service. Department of Labour. 1998. New Zealand.
http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/order/catalogue/pdf/mothers.pdf
• New and Expectant Mothers at Work. Milton Kynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. OH &
Sgl-1. V2. 2005. Available at: http://www.mkgeneral.nhs.uk/uploads/documents/ohs-gl-1.pdf
• Expectant & New Mothers/ ACT Workplaces. Guidelines for Employers and Employees.
2004. Australian Capital Territory, Canberra. Available
at:http://www.dhcs.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/39060/expectantandnewmothers
guidelines.pdf
• SCC Health and Safety Manual New & expectant mothers at work: HS 017 New and
expectant mothers at work. 2008. Available at : http://www.six.somerset.gov.uk

st
5. Document Amendment Record
Revision Page/s
Version Description of Amendment
Date Affected
Change of Logo All
Change from AD EHS Center to OSHAD throughout
1st July Change of document title: AD EHSMS RF to OSHAD-SF Throughout

3.0
2016 Acknowledgements deleted 2/3
Preface Deleted 4
Appendix 1 Flow chart deleted 10

st
Appendix 1: List of Examples of Agents/Hazards, Risks and
Control Measures in the Workplace
LIST OF
AGENTS/HAZARDS OR POTENTIAL RISK PRECAUTION
WORKING CONDITIONS
Physical Agents
Pregnant employees and those
Regular exposure to shocks, low who have recently given birth are
frequency vibration, for example advised to avoid work likely to
driving or riding or excessive involve uncomfortable whole
movement may increase the risk of body vibration, especially at low
Shocks, vibration or a miscarriage. Long term exposure frequencies, or where the
movement to vibration does not cause fetal abdomen is exposed to shocks or
abnormalities but often occurs with jolts.
heavy physical work, so there may
be an increased risk of prematurely Breastfeeding employees are at
or low birth weight no greater risk than other
employees
Pregnant employees are especially

at risk from manual handling injury
eg.: hormonal changes can affect
the ligaments, increasing
susceptibility to injury and postural It may be reasonable practicable
problems may be increased as the to alter the nature of the task so
pregnancy progresses that tasks that have a manual
handling risk are reduced for all
There can also be risks for those
employees including new or
Manual Handling who have recently given birth, for
expectant mothers. It would be
example after a caesarean section
necessary to address the specific
there is likely to be a temporary
needs for the employee and
limitation of lifting and handling
reduce the amount of physical
capability.
work she is required to do
There is no evidence to suggest
that breastfeeding mothers are at
greater risk from manual handling
injury than any other employee

st
Although no direct or specific risk to
new or expectant mothers or fetus,
Comply with OSHAD-SF - CoP
Noise prolonged exposure may cause
3.0 – Occupational Noise
tiredness and increased blood
pressure
Risk assessment to consider

additional risks associated with
working at heights
Work at heights Fall from ladders, platforms
Prevent exposure to work at
heights
Significant exposure can harm the Design work: procedures to keep

fetus exposure of the pregnant women
as low as reasonably practicable
If a nursing mother works with
and certainly below the regulatory
radioactive liquids or dusts the child
Radiation Hazards: dose limit for pregnant women.
can be exposed, particularly
eg. 1mSv during the remainder of
through contamination of the
Ionizing radiation pregnancy (as from the moment
mother’s skin
the employer is notified of the
Reasonably practicable risks to pregnancy)
fetus from significant amounts of
Nursing mothers shall not be
radioactive contamination breathed
employed where the risk of
radioactive contamination is high
Optical radiation risk: pregnant or

breastfeeding mothers at no
Exposure to electric and
greater risk than other employees
magnetic fields shall not exceed
Non-ionizing
Electromagnetic fields and waves restrictions on human exposure
electromagnetic
Risk: exposure within current published by the National
radiation
recommendations is not known to Radiological Protection Board -
cause harm, but extreme over- UK
exposure to radio-frequency
radiation could cause harm by
raising body temperature

st
Biological Agents
Hepatitis B
HIV(Aids virus)
Depends on the risk assessment,
Herpes which will take account of the
nature of the biological agent how
TB Many biological agents can affect
infection is spread, how likely
the unborn child if the mother is
Syphilis contact is, and what control
infected during pregnancy. These
measures there are. These may
may be transmitted through the
Chickenpox include physical containment,
placenta while the child is in the
hygiene measures, and use of
Typhoid womb, or during or after birth, for
available vaccines if exposure
example through breastfeeding or
Rubella justifies this
through close physical contact
Toxoplasma between mother and child
Where there is a high risk then
Cytomegalovirus the pregnant employee shall
avoid exposure altogether
Chemical Hazards
Carbon monoxide crossing the
placenta can result in the fetus
being starved of oxygen. Level
and duration of maternal Change processes or equipment.
exposure are important factors
in the effect on the fetus Warn pregnant women that they may
Carbon monoxide (CO)
No indication that breastfed have heightened susceptibility to the
babies suffer adverse effects effects of exposure to carbon
from the mother’s exposure to monoxide
carbon monoxide, or that the
mother is significantly more
sensitive to carbon monoxide
after giving birth

st
Content:
R40 reasonably practicable
risks or irreversible effect
R45 may cause cancer
R46 may cause heritable For work with hazardous substances,
genetic damage which include chemicals which may
R47 may cause birth defect cause heritable genetic damage,
R61 may cause harm to the employers are required to assess the
unborn child health risks to employees arising from
All substances labeled R63 reasonably practicable such work, and where prevent or
R40, R45, R46, risks of harm to the control risks. In carrying out
R47,R61,R63,R64 unborn child assessments employer shall have
R64 may cause harm to regard for women who are pregnant,
breastfed babies or who have recently given birth
Risk assessments shall be
undertaken, as this is the only Comply with the OSHAD-SF - CoP
way to determine the actual 1.0 – Hazardous Substances
risk to health. Although they
have a potential to endanger
health or safety there may be
on risk in practice when below
Occupational or Maximum
Wide range of toxic effects
during pregnancy and Once pregnancy is confirmed, women
impairment of the child after shall be suspended from any work
birth. More recent studies which exposes them to lead at 50% of
draw attention to an the permissible exposure limit and
Lead and lead reassigned to suitable duties
association between low-level
derivatives
lead exposure before the baby
Comply with the OSHAD-SF - CoP
is born from environmental
1.2 – Lead Exposure Management
sources and mild decreases in
intellectual performance in
childhood

st
Exposure to organic mercury
compounds during pregnancy
can slow the growth of the
unborn baby, disrupt the
nervous system and cause the
mother to be poisoned
There is no clear evidence of

adverse effects on developing
fetus of exposure to mercury
and inorganic mercury
compounds
Mercury and mercury Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers
derivatives shall not work with or handle mercury
No indication that mothers are
more likely to suffer greater
adverse effects from mercury
and its compounds after the
birth of the baby
Postnatal exposure has been

documented among infants
breastfed by mothers exposed
after delivery to methyl
mercury. Inorganic mercury is
also excreted in breast milk
Restrict all pregnant women from

handling antimitotic drugs in any form.
In the long term, damage to
No known threshold limit; Exposure
genetic information in sperm
shall be reduced to as low a level as
and egg. Some can cause
is reasonably practical.
cancer
Assessment of risk shall look
Absorption is by inhalation and
particularly at preparation of the drug
through the skin
Antimitotic (cytotoxic) for use (pharmacists, nurses),
drugs Pregnant doctors and nurses administration of the drug, and
administering antimitotic disposal of waste
agents (even when doing so
Those who are trying to conceive or
with extreme care) have shown
are pregnant, or breastfeeding shall
a significant increase in fetal
be informed of the reproductive
loss and/ or congenital
hazard. Transfer any pregnant
malformations
employee preparing antineoplastic
drug solutions to another job

st
Working Conditions
Prolonged exposure of Heat Avoidance: Take great care
pregnant employees to hot when exposed to prolonged heat.
environments shall be kept to a Appropriate rest, rest facilities and
minimum, as there is a greater access to refreshments would help,
risk of the employee suffering along with unrestricted access to
from heat stress. drinking water. New and expectant
Breastfeeding may be impaired mothers shall note that thirst is not an
by heat dehydration early indicator for heat stress. They
Temperature extremes of shall drink water before they get
heat or cold Working in extreme cold may thirsty, preferably in small and
be a hazard for pregnant frequent volumes
women and their unborn
children. Warm clothing shall Comply with OSHAD-SF – CoP 11.0
be provided – Safety in the Heat
The risks are particularly Cold Avoidance: No specific problems

increased if there are sudden from working in extreme cold. Provide
changes in temperature warm clothing
Pregnant women do not need to stop

Although there has been
working with VDUs, but to avoid
widespread anxiety about
problems caused by stress and
radiation emissions from
anxiety; those who are worried about
Display screen display screen equipment and
the effects shall be given the
equipment possible effects on pregnant
opportunity to discuss their concerns
women, there is substantial
with someone appropriately informed
evidence that these concerns
of current authoritative scientific
are unfounded.
information and advice.

st
Appendix 2: Common Health Aspects in Pregnancy
Employers shall be aware of some of the health aspects for new and expectant mothers. Employers
shall develop a plan and ensure business continuity arrangements are in place.
The below table highlights aspects of pregnancy and the work factors which have an effect.
Aspects for
Factors in Work Precautions
Pregnancy
Early morning shifts Re-organize shifts to avoid early
Exposure to nauseating smells- in mornings, when reasonably practicable
Morning some cases this may be an Avoid duties involving strong/
Sickness innocuous, ordinary, everyday smell nauseating smells, eg. cleaning up
that the pregnant woman suddenly human soiling, laboratory work with
finds intolerable strong chemicals
Provide appropriate seating where
reasonably practicable or reduce the
time spent standing- ensure rotation of
work duties to avoid periods of standing
Long periods of standing or sitting
Moving and handling tasks Assess and control all moving and
Backache
Poor posture manual handling activities carried out by
Insufficient available working space the pregnant women
Re-organize work and/or workplace to
avoid poor postures
Ensure appropriate space at
workstation and for moving around
Ensure rotation of work duties to avoid
Long periods of standing or sitting long periods of standing or sitting
Varicose veins
Poor posture Re-organize work and/or workplace to
avoid poor posture
Re-organize work and/ or workplace to
Poor Posture
avoid poor postures
Hot environments
Avoid or minimize time spent in hot
Hemorrhoids
environments
Provide some form of air cooling, if
appropriate
Work that is difficult to leave, eg.
Re-organize work activities and/or
Increased visits teaching, vehicle driving
workplace to allow necessary visits to
to toilet Difficult access to, or location of,
toilet
toilets
Increasing size Moving and manual handling tasks Assess and control all manual handling
(may also Display screen work-increasing activities carried out by the pregnant
reduce mobility, viewing distance from screen women
dexterity and Protective equipment and clothing Ensure appropriate space at
general (PPE) workstation and for moving around
st
coordination in Review worksite assessment and make
later stages) necessary changes or re-organize work
activities to avoid display screen wok
Avoid wok activities requiring PPE or
review and revise the PPE provided
Provision of rest facilities and
organization of work activities to allow
Work that is difficult to leave
Change in blood their use, as required
Long working hours and/or overtime
pressure Provision for attending medical
Evening work
Tiredness examinations
Strenuous, physical work
Re-organization of work to reduce/avoid
strenuous activities
Provision of appropriate anti-slip
flooring
Working on wet slippery surfaces Planned maintenance programs to
Reduced Working at height maintain good condition of flooring
balance Work requiring stretching away from Re-organization of work activities or
the body workplace to avoid slippery surfaces,
working at height or stretching away
from the body

st
© OSHAD 2016
This document was developed by OSHAD and the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD). The document is and shall remain
the property of OSHAD and may only be used for the purposes for which it was intended. Unauthorized use or
reproduction of this document is prohibited.

9.1 - New and Expectant Mothers v3.0 English

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

9.1 - New and Expectant Mothers v3.0 English

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health System

CoP 9.1 – New and Expectant Mothers

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

(i) OSHAD-SF – Element 5 – Training, Awareness and Competency;

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

(i) when notified of a new, expectant, or breastfeeding mother;

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

• OSHAD-SF – Element 2 – Risk Management

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

1st July Change of document title: AD EHSMS RF to OSHAD-SF Throughout

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

Pregnant employees are especially

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

Risk assessment to consider

Significant exposure can harm the Design work: procedures to keep

Optical radiation risk: pregnant or

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

There is no clear evidence of

Postnatal exposure has been

Restrict all pregnant women from

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

The risks are particularly Cold Avoidance: No specific problems

Pregnant women do not need to stop

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

OSHAD-SF – Codes of Practice

You might also like