About this session
Pregnancy does not make every job unsafe, and safe work should not be based on blanket assumptions about what a pregnant employee can or cannot do.
The starting point is the actual work: the tasks, exposures, environment, schedule and controls, together with any relevant individual advice supplied through the appropriate healthcare or occupational-health route.
Participants learn how pregnancy and the postnatal period can change the significance of existing hazards.
Physical demands, prolonged standing, awkward access, heat, night work, infectious exposure, chemicals, radiation, vibration and the fit of protective equipment may all deserve review depending on the role.
Some risks can be addressed through straightforward work changes; others require competent occupational-health, hygiene, engineering or clinical input.
The session also considers new mothers returning to physical or safety-critical duties, including recovery, breastfeeding-related exposure questions and changes in capacity or PPE fit.
The emphasis remains on safe work design, privacy and proportionate support rather than automatically removing employees from meaningful work.
What your people take away
- Understand why pregnancy and the postnatal period can change the significance of existing workplace hazards
- Review physical, environmental, biological and chemical exposures in relation to the actual task
- Apply the hierarchy of controls before relying on restrictions or individual coping
- Recognize when work adjustments, specialist assessment or occupational-health input may be needed
- Keep workplace risk review current as pregnancy, recovery and work conditions change
- Support a safe return to physical or safety-critical work while protecting privacy and avoiding assumptions
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: Assess the Work — Not the Pregnancy in IsolationA focused 30-minute session on three key points from Assess the Work — Not the Pregnancy in Isolation: start with the actual task and exposure, recognize that risk can change over time and use individual information without turning managers into clinicians.
- Start with the actual task and exposure
- Recognize that risk can change over time
- Use individual information without turning managers into clinicians
Covers 3 of 4 points in Assess the Work — Not the Pregnancy in Isolation.
60 minutes
60 Minutes — Pregnancy and New-Mother Workplace Safety EssentialsA focused introduction to pregnancy-related occupational risk, changing exposure, physical demands, environmental hazards and proportionate workplace adjustments. Participants work through a task scenario and identify what can be controlled directly and what requires specialist advice.
- Task-based pregnancy risk assessment
- Changing risk across pregnancy and postnatal recovery
- Physical workload and prolonged standing
- Heat, fatigue and shift work
- Chemical and biological exposure awareness
- PPE fit and emergency arrangements
- Workplace adjustments
- Pregnancy Safety Decision Exercise
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 4 parts: Assess the Work — Not the Pregnancy in Isolation.
90 minutes
90 Minutes — Assess and Adjust Work SafelyThe extended session adds deeper learning on manual handling, scheduling, occupational exposures, PPE, breastfeeding-related considerations and postnatal return to physical or safety-sensitive work. Participants build a structured workplace review around realistic scenarios.
- Pregnancy and postnatal risk review
- Physical demand and ergonomic change
- Heat and workload
- Night work, shifts and recovery
- Chemical exposure
- Biological agents
- Radiation and other specialist exposures
- PPE compatibility and fit
- Hierarchy of controls
- Work adjustments
- Return-to-work and breastfeeding considerations
- Workplace Risk Review Exercise
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 4 parts: Assess the Work — Not the Pregnancy in Isolation and Recognize Pregnancy-Relevant Workplace Hazards.
3 hours
Covers 3 of 4 parts: Assess the Work — Not the Pregnancy in Isolation, Recognize Pregnancy-Relevant Workplace Hazards and Control the Risk and Adjust the Work.
Full day
Full Day — Pregnant Worker and New-Mother Safety WorkshopAn applied workshop covering all four modules. Participants assess realistic workplace scenarios, compare control options, review changing needs and build a practical safety plan that distinguishes normal workplace adjustments from issues requiring occupational-health, hygiene, engineering or clinical input.
- Module 1 — Assess the Work — Not the Pregnancy in Isolation
- Module 2 — Recognize Pregnancy-Relevant Workplace Hazards
- Module 3 — Control the Risk and Adjust the Work
- Module 4 — Support New Mothers and Keep the Plan Current
- Pregnancy and Postnatal Task Map
- Physical Demand Scenario
- Heat and Shift-Work Review
- Chemical and Biological Exposure Case
- PPE Fit and Emergency Arrangement Exercise
- Hierarchy of Controls Decision Exercise
- Work Adjustment Planning Lab
- Postnatal Return Scenario
- 30-Day Workplace Safety Action Plan
- Live Q&A
Covers all 4 parts.
Also available as a 4-week or 8-week program, for change that lasts. Ask us about it.
What’s covered
Assess the Work — Not the Pregnancy in Isolation
Every length- Start with the actual task and exposureA pregnancy-related workplace review begins with what the employee is actually exposed to.
- Recognize that risk can change over timePregnancy and postnatal recovery are not static.
- Use individual information without turning managers into cliniciansSome employees may receive advice from their maternity team, healthcare professional or occupational health about particular work activities.
- Protect privacy while managing safetyPregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and recovery information can be sensitive.
Recognize Pregnancy-Relevant Workplace Hazards
90 minutes and longer- Review physical demand, posture and accessManual handling, sustained force, repetitive movement, prolonged standing, awkward access and physically demanding work may need review as pregnancy progresses or during postnatal recovery.
- Consider heat, fatigue, shift patterns and recoveryHot environments, heavy physical work, long or demanding shifts, night work and inadequate recovery can interact with pregnancy or postnatal needs.
- Identify exposures that may require specialist reviewSome chemical agents, biological hazards, ionizing radiation, vibration and other occupational exposures may require additional assessment during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Check whether PPE and emergency arrangements still workChanges in body size, mobility or task demands can affect the fit and usability of protective clothing, harnesses and other PPE.
Control the Risk and Adjust the Work
3 hours and longer- Use the hierarchy of controlsParticipants first consider whether an exposure can be eliminated, substituted, enclosed or otherwise reduced at source before changing the employee's behavior or removing them from the work.
- Make adjustments specific to the problemUseful adjustments may involve task mix, working height, seating, lifting demands, break access, travel, shift timing, workstation setup or temporary reassignment of a particular exposure.
- Check whether the adjustment creates a new riskMoving someone away from one hazard can introduce another.
- Escalate when safe control cannot be confirmedSome decisions require specialist exposure information, occupational-health advice, engineering review or another competent assessment before the work can continue as planned.
Support New Mothers and Keep the Plan Current
Full day only- Plan the return around the work — not assumptionsPostnatal recovery varies considerably.
- Consider breastfeeding-related exposure questionsFor workers who are breastfeeding or expressing milk, certain occupational exposures may need additional review because some substances can enter the body and potentially reach breast milk.
- Review fatigue, physical demand and safety-critical workEarly parenthood can involve disrupted sleep at the same time an employee is returning to demanding work.
- Keep communication and review proportionateAn effective plan has clear ownership, agreed controls and sensible review points.
Tools and materials
- Pregnancy and Postnatal Work Risk Map
- Physical Demand and Access Review
- Heat and Shift Risk Prompt
- Pregnancy-Relevant Exposure Review
- Hazard Information and Exposure Checklist
- Specialist Assessment Decision Guide
- Work Adjustment Planner
- Adjusted Work New-Risk Check
- Return-to-Work Safety Planner
- Pregnancy and New-Mother Workplace Safety Playbook
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Safety for Pregnant Workers and New Mothers
How long is Safety for Pregnant Workers and New Mothers?
Safety for Pregnant Workers and New Mothers runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers three key points from Assess the Work — Not the Pregnancy in Isolation: start with the actual task and exposure, recognize that risk can change over time and use individual information without turning managers into clinicians. A 60-minute session covers Assess the Work — Not the Pregnancy in Isolation in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Recognize Pregnancy-Relevant Workplace Hazards. A 3-hour session adds Control the Risk and Adjust the Work. A full-day session adds Support New Mothers and Keep the Plan Current. It is also available as a 4-week or 8-week program.
Can Safety for Pregnant Workers and New Mothers be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Safety for Pregnant Workers and New Mothers?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Safety for Pregnant Workers and New Mothers to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.