STAMI’s counselling service for pregnant women in work may provide assistance in questions regarding potentially problematic workplace exposures and information on how to conduct a risk assessment of the workplace environment.
Safety for Pregnant Women in Work
The Working Environment Act (Arbeidsmiljøloven) stipulates that all workplaces must be safe for all employees, including pregnant women and their unborn child. Both pregnant women and employers may be unsure in regard to what a “safe work environment” entails and what measures are necessary to achieve this. According to the Working Environment Act, the employer is responsible for assessing whether the work poses a risk for their employees, and what measures need to be taken to achieve a safe working environment. This includes any necessary workplace facilitations or relocation within the organizations should facilitation not be possible.
Employers will often particularly benefit from qualified assistance from occupational health service professionals (e.g. bedriftshelsetjeneste) to ensure a safe working environment through a thorough risk assessment and subsequent risk management.
One way to arrive at the correct and well-founded measures is to employ the so-called “tripartite conversation” where the pregnant employee, their employer, and a representative of the occupational health service discuss the need for any particular workplace facilitations to allow the pregnant women to remain in a safe working environment throughout the pregnancy.
The healthcare professional (midwife of physician) who provides follow-up throughout the pregnancy may also contribute to ensuring a safe work environment for the pregnant woman.
STAMI’s Counseling Service
STAMI’s counselling service for pregnant women in work may assist with advice on how to conduct a risk assessment of the work environment for pregnant women and what examinations and assessments should form the basis for any workplace facilitations. We provide advice to pregnant employees, occupational health services, and other health personnel as needed, but we do not engage in the actual work of risk assessment or assume any responsibilities in executing the actual workplace facilitations.
Therefore, the counselling service cannot, and should not, take control over the responsibilities that lie with the employer or healthcare professional in maternity care. Our role is solely advisory, and through advice and guidance, we can provide professional support with general and particular issues.
Those who contact STAMIs counselling service are mainly pregnant employees themselves, occupational health service workers, or other healthcare personnel, in particular midviwes. The counselling service aims at providing well-founded medical and occupational knowledge based on published research. Most of the inquiries to the counselling service pertain to the chemical work environment but also include physical strain and ergonomic factors, work schedules, risk of infection, loud noise, vibration, radiation, risk of violence, and factors regarding the psychosocial work environment.
Anyone in need of advice can contact the counselling service by email: graviditet@stami.no