New-&-Expectant-Students-Updated-Nov-11

Effective: Dec Review Date: Nov Status: Final Approved: Nov Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov NEW AND EXPECTANT MOTHERS – FOR STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH & WELLBEING 2008 2013 2008 2011 PURPOSE The University of Wolverhampton is aware of the potential susceptibility of new and expectant mothers to certain risks that may arise during their studies and course related work All reasonably practicable steps will be taken to safeguard the health and safety of expectant mothers and their unborn children, as described below Whilst on University course placements, additional considerations regarding NHS Trust / Clinical Placement Provider requirements must be investigated by each individual new or expectant mother Students must abide by all statutory and placement requirements The School has elected to give consideration to students attending their course of studies It is each student’s personal responsibility to explore NHS Trust / Clinical Placement Provider Policy requirements with regard to their practical experiences as they apply to them SCOPE All Students of the School DEFINITIONS A “new and expectant mother” is defined in law as a worker who is pregnant, who has given birth within the previous six months, or who is breastfeeding “Given birth” is defined as having delivered a living child or, after 24 weeks of pregnancy, a stillborn child Risk Assessment (RA) is a legal requirement as specified in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 There is an individual and ongoing need to take account of the physiological changes during pregnancy DOCUMENTS AND ASSOCIATED FORMS NHS Trust / Clinical Placement Provider Policy RA Checklist – Appendix KB/TG:teresa/personnel/procedures:new and expectant students of SHAW 20/10/2022 Page of Effective: Dec Review Date: Nov Status: Final Approved: Nov Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov 2008 2013 2008 2011 REFERENCES http://asp2.wlv.ac.uk/hs/policies/RSH%20Policy%20-%20New%20and %20expectant%20mothers.pdf PROCEDURE 6.1 Notification of Pregnancy – Student’s Duty  Any female student studying with the School, at the University, has the responsibility to notify their personal tutor or course leader in writing that she is an expectant mother Only then does the School assess the added risks to the expectant mother  The student should pass on any advice from her registered medical practitioner or midwife that could affect the assessment of her risk at University, or during practice / clinical educational placements 6.2 Notification of Birth – Student’s Duty  Newly appointed female students on courses should notify their personal tutor or course leader if they have given birth within the previous six months or are breastfeeding If any employee continues to breastfeed for more than six months, she must notify her personal tutor or course leader so that this will be included in any generic RA 6.3 Risk Assessment  Immediately after notification by a student that she is pregnant or commencing / returning to studies within six months of giving birth or whilst breast feeding, a specific and individual RA must be completed by the personal tutor or appointed person  This must be reviewed with the expectant or recently delivered student and the appropriate identified actions applied Additional advice may be sought from the Occupational Health Adviser  It is noted that risks may arise from several sources including physical, biological, chemical agents, working conditions and processes KB/TG:teresa/personnel/procedures:new and expectant students of SHAW 20/10/2022 Page of Effective: Dec Review Date: Nov Status: Final Approved: Nov Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov 2008 2013 2008 2011  The RA should be regularly revisited to ensure that any changes in the condition of the expectant/new mother are dealt with The physiological changes must be taken into account when assessing the risks, these might include:          morning sickness; backache associated with prolonged periods of sitting or manual handling; haemorrhoids and varicose veins associated with posture; ready and easy access to toilets; increasing tiredness as the pregnancy develops; balance as size increases; tiredness due to disturbed nights; ready and easy access to private facilities for lactation purposes; separation anxiety  The purpose of completing the RA is to develop awareness of personal and professional requirements for safety for the individual student and the educational institution Each party can identify appropriate and reasonable measures that may be taken, need to control reduce or eliminate risk and, by acting on the findings, to demonstrate that personal and institutional duty of care has been fulfilled High-risk work/activities should not be carried out until suitable controls are introduced, the work should only proceed when any remaining risks are acceptable 6.4 Specific Hazards and Risks  The following are some of the main specific hazards that are associated with new and expectant mothers at work that may need to be eliminated or else adequately controlled The RA should consider these and any others that may be identified within an area of work The medical condition of each new / expectant mother needs to be considered on the basis of advice from her doctor or midwife where necessary KB/TG:teresa/personnel/procedures:new and expectant students of SHAW 20/10/2022 Page of Effective: Dec Review Date: Nov Status: Final Approved: Nov Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov             2008 2013 2008 2011 slips, trips and falls – the increasing size of a pregnant woman may adversely affect her balance, so slippery or uneven stairs, floors, paths etc are a particular concern; standing or sitting for long periods; mechanical – vibrations/movement – including travel; manual Handling – lifting, twisting, etc.; excessive noise; exposure to radiation – non-ionising and ionising; extremes of temperature; infectious or contagious disease, e.g German measles, Listeriosis; harmful substances – exposure to other people’s tobacco smoke, lead, organic mercury chemicals; display screen equipment – IT work stations; working hours – duration per day, late and night working (suspension on medical certificate); work-related stress – working conditions, excessive workloads, travel during rush hour 6.5 Preventative and Protective Action  If a risk remains after reasonable preventative and protective actions were taken, then the personal tutor or appointed person, the pregnant worker, Personnel services and the appropriate Occupational Health Advisor must liaise to consider other alternatives to control or reduce the identified risk These should include:  Adjusting the studying / working conditions or hours if it is reasonable to so and would avoid the risks Or, if these conditions cannot be met  Identifying and offering suitable alternative course consideration  Besides undertaking an individual RA for an expectant or new mother undertaking a nursing or midwifery course, the School in conjunction with the student, will as far as is reasonably practicable act on all information and findings as described above, and where possible provide the pregnant or nursing mother with suitable rest facilities This in practice can be any type of room that can provide a clean and private environment, i.e First Aid room, empty office KB/TG:teresa/personnel/procedures:new and expectant students of SHAW 20/10/2022 Page of Effective: Dec Review Date: Nov Status: Final Approved: Nov Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov 2008 2013 2008 2011 APPENDIX RISK ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST Any place of study of work can present extra hazards to pregnant women and new mothers The following checklist will help to identify some of these It is divided into four sections; these consider the physical and mental student role demands, and the general and specific consideration within the study environment There are blank sections for the inclusion of individual student specific considerations Actions should be identified where risk concerns are highlighted The final page of this section identifies the storing and follow-up requirements in relation to this document Physical Demands Presen t Y/N Does the work involve: Lifting or pushing of heavy objects, e.g skills session? Standing or sitting for long periods? A lot of walking? The need to access areas with limited space? Will any attendance become more hazardous due to the worker’s changing shape and size? Does the study attendance involve very early or late hours? Does clinical placement work involve night duty? Has the student contacted her clinical placement site for a Trust / Clinical Educational Placement RA? Does the job involve meeting challenging deadlines? Does the role involve rapidly changing priorities and demands? Does the role require a high degree of challenge? Is there any pregnancy related or separation anxiety? Are late or long driving hours required? Are toilet facilities easily available for the pregnant student? General Considerations Presen t Y/N Risk Concern Y/N Action / Comments Risk Concern Action KB/TG:teresa/personnel/procedures:new and expectant students of SHAW 20/10/2022 Page of Effective: Dec Review Date: Nov Status: Final Approved: Nov Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov Y/N Are students able to take toilet breaks when necessary? Can the student take rest breaks when needed? Can the student control her pace of work/study? Are there any risks of violence? Does any part of the role involve dealing with the public? Does the role involve:  Contact with sick or young people?  Unpredictable working hours?  Dealing with emergencies? Are there any obstacles in corridors, classrooms etc that could cause problems for pregnant women e.g in the event of a fire? Is there any form of indoor air pollution, i.e fumes etc, which might be hazardous? Is the environmental temperature reasonable? Do the seating arrangements etc, give the pregnant student sufficient space? Is there any study adjustments needed to accommodate the pregnant student? Are there any clinical placement uniform requirements? Are there any statutory and / or placement requirements that apply? Does any part of the role involve the use of chemicals? Does the student need any specific protective clothing or equipment? Is there any requirement for prolonged periods of restricted activity / mobility? Specific Hazards Presen t Y/N Risk Concern Y/N Is there any risk of exposure to KB/TG:teresa/personnel/procedures:new and expectant students of SHAW 20/10/2022 Page of Action 2008 2013 2008 2011 Effective: Dec Review Date: Nov Status: Final Approved: Nov Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov 2008 2013 2008 2011 excessive vibration? Has the student developed any pregnancy associated symptoms or conditions that might affect her ability to continue in her current role? For the breast feeding mother is there:  Private and secure area to express breast milk if required  Safe and secure area to store expressed breast milk if required  Correct labeling for any stored expressed breast milk if required Review date arranged as required This checklist has been completed to the best of my knowledge, and agreed in my presence Name of Student: …………………………………………………………………………………………… Signature: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Name of SHaW Staff Member: …………………………………………………………………………… Signature: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Date completed: ………………………… Date for Action/Review: ………………………… Copy for student file Y/N Student copy Notification to Site Manager slip sent Y/N Y/N Date ………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………… Notification to Site Manager of Risk Assessment form for New & Expectant Mothers for Student Name ………………………… Student Number……………………… KB/TG:teresa/personnel/procedures:new and expectant students of SHAW 20/10/2022 Page of Effective: Dec Review Date: Nov Status: Final Approved: Nov Owner: H&S Cttee Reviewed/Updated: Nov Centre…………………… Activation Date…………………….Review Date…………………… Completed by……………………………………… Specific Comments………………………… KB/TG:teresa/personnel/procedures:new and expectant students of SHAW 20/10/2022 Page of 2008 2013 2008 2011