I have just got pregnant. Do I have any special health and safety protection at work?

Yes. Several health and safety laws require your employer to pay special attention to any workplace hazards that might affect you or your baby.

These are:

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. These require employers to include risks to new and expectant mothers in their risk assessments. This applies whether or not your employer knows you are pregnant.
• The Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999.
• The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1998.

Guidance for employers issued by the Health and Safety Executive in December 2002 , New and expectant mothers at work, sets out your employer's legal obligations. (This Guidance is due to be updated shortly.) It says to employers: "You are required to assess risks to all your employees, and to do what is reasonably practicable to control those risks." The guide identifies all the hazards that are likely to affect pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.