Pregnancy and Employment

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Is your working environment safe during pregnancy?

Certain jobs and work places may pose a risk to a pregnancy, in particular to the early stages of pregnancy. For example:

• Raw meat is sometimes contaminated with germs such as listeria and toxoplasma. If these germs infect adults, they may cause listeriosis or toxoplasmosis, but may cause little harm. However, these germs can cause serious problems to your unborn child if you become infected when you are pregnant.
• If you work with certain animals. For example:
  • You should avoid contact with sheep and lambs at lambing time. This is because some lambs are born contaminated with germs such as listeria, toxoplasma and chlamydia which may affect you and your unborn baby.
  • Cats and kittens often carry toxoplasma germs. Especially cats faeces (motions). So, cleaning out cat litters and handling cats and kittens can be a risk.
• If your job puts you at risk of contracting hepatitis B, you should be immunised against this virus. For example, if you are a health-care worker, or work at a day care or residential centre. (Women with hepatitis B can pass on the infection to their child at childbirth.)
• If you work with chemicals, fumes, radiation, etc. Some may be toxic to an unborn baby.

The above are just examples. In short, if you think that your occupation may pose a risk to a pregnancy, then you should discuss this with your employer before becoming pregnant. A change in job, or working practice, may be necessary.

You and your employer may wish to download information guides from the Health and Safety Executive website at www.hse.gov.uk.

© EMIS and PIP 2006   Updated: June 2006   PRODIGY Validated

The authors and editors of this article are employed to create accurate and up to date content reflecting reliable research evidence, guidance and best clinical practice. They are free from any commercial conflicts of interest. Find out more about updating.

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