When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and workplace h&s teams carrying out new & expectant mothers risk assessment — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised site & general hazards for this task, with the controls a reviewer expects to see.
What this RAMS includes
- ✓ 9 task-specific hazards scored on a 5×5 matrix (initial → residual)
- ✓ Specific control measures for each hazard, in hierarchy-of-control order
- ✓ A 10-step method statement (sequence of works)
- ✓ PPE, plant/equipment, permits and competence requirements
- ✓ Emergency arrangements and operative briefing / sign-off section
Scope of works
Assess additional risks to new and expectant mothers — manual handling, hazardous substances, standing/fatigue and working conditions.
Sequence of works
- 1STEP 1 — NOTIFICATION: Establish a clear, confidential notification process so employees can inform their manager or HR of pregnancy, recent birth or breastfeeding at the earliest opportunity without detriment.
- 2STEP 2 — INDIVIDUAL RISK ASSESSMENT: Within a reasonable time of notification, conduct a specific written individual risk assessment for the new or expectant mother, covering all tasks, substances, physical demands and working conditions relevant to her role. Use the general workplace risk assessment as the baseline but tailor findings to her individual circumstances.
- 3STEP 3 — COSHH REVIEW: Identify all hazardous substances the individual may encounter. Review Safety Data Sheets for reproductive toxicity data and cross-reference with HSE EH40 WELs. Involve occupational health where specialist interpretation is required.
- 4STEP 4 — MANUAL HANDLING ASSESSMENT: Assess all manual handling tasks against guidance on safe weight limits during pregnancy. Document the need for load limits, mechanical aids or task reassignment and implement immediately.
- 5STEP 5 — IMPLEMENT RISK CONTROLS: Apply controls strictly following the hierarchy — eliminate the risk first (reassignment, removal from hazardous areas), then substitute, engineer, administer, and only as a last resort use PPE. Record all adjustments made and communicate them to the individual and her line manager.
- 6STEP 6 — WELFARE PROVISIONS: Confirm that suitable welfare facilities are available and accessible — including clean rest areas with seating, toilet facilities in close proximity, and a private space for breastfeeding or expressing milk if required.
- 7STEP 7 — REVIEW BY TRIMESTER AND ON CHANGE: Repeat and update the risk assessment at each trimester, on any change in the individual's medical condition, on any change to her role or working environment, and following return from maternity leave.
- 8STEP 8 — SUSPENSION ON FULL PAY (IF NECESSARY): If suitable alternative work cannot be found and significant risk remains that cannot be adequately controlled, suspend the employee on full pay in accordance with her statutory rights. Document the rationale fully.
- 9STEP 9 — RECORD AND COMMUNICATE: Retain written records of all risk assessments, control decisions and reviews. Provide the individual with a copy of her risk assessment and ensure her manager, HR and occupational health (where involved) are kept informed.
- 10STEP 10 — POSTNATAL AND BREASTFEEDING REVIEW: On return from maternity leave, conduct a further risk assessment to address any specific risks associated with breastfeeding (chemical exposure via breast milk, rest breaks for expressing) and any ongoing postnatal health considerations.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Manual handling — excessive loads
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Reassign tasks requiring lifting, carrying or pushing of significant loads away from the new or expectant mother for the duration of pregnancy and the postnatal period.
- › Where some manual handling cannot be avoided, provide trolleys, hoists, pump trucks or other mechanical aids to reduce physical load.
- › Review and progressively reduce permitted manual handling loads as pregnancy advances, referencing midwife or occupational health guidance on safe weight limits.
- › Where residual light manual handling is unavoidable and approved by the individual's midwife or GP, a maternity support belt may provide additional lumbar support.
Prolonged standing and static posture
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Redesign the role so the individual can alternate between sitting and standing, avoiding continuous standing shifts.
- › Ensure an ergonomic adjustable seat is available at the workstation to allow frequent rest from standing.
- › Introduce additional rest breaks to allow the individual to sit, elevate feet and reduce circulatory strain.
Fatigue and long working hours
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where a registered medical practitioner or midwife certifies that night work endangers the employee's health, transfer her to day work or, if not practicable, suspend on full pay.
- › Cap daily working hours and restrict mandatory overtime for new and expectant mothers in line with occupational health advice.
- › Ensure access to rest facilities including a place to lie down, and that rest breaks are not discouraged by supervisors or work culture.
Exposure to hazardous substances (general COSHH)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Reassign the individual away from tasks or areas where hazardous substances are used or present, as the primary control.
- › Where the task must continue in the area, substitute the hazardous substance with a lower-hazard alternative assessed as safe during pregnancy.
- › Install or verify LEV is operational to reduce airborne concentrations of hazardous substances at source before relying on respiratory PPE.
- › Carry out a specific COSHH assessment for all substances encountered, cross-referencing SDS reproductive toxicity data and EH40 WELs. Reduce exposure below WEL by additional margin for pregnant workers.
Exposure to biological agents
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Prevent new or expectant mothers from working with known biological agents (e.g. clinical waste, laboratory cultures, livestock areas) where risk to pregnancy has been identified.
- › Consult occupational health to establish immunity status (e.g. rubella) before pregnancy is confirmed where work involves exposure risk; record and act on findings.
- › Where some exposure risk cannot be eliminated, ensure rigorous hand-washing facilities, separate rest and eating areas, and no eating/drinking in contaminated zones.
Ionising radiation exposure
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Once pregnancy is declared, immediately move the worker away from controlled or supervised radiation areas and cease any work involving direct handling of radioactive sources.
- › A competent Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) must review residual exposure risk and confirm dose to the unborn child will not exceed 1 mSv for the remainder of pregnancy.
Stress and psychological wellbeing
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Conduct a confidential individual risk assessment discussion with the employee, ensuring she is informed of her rights, adjustments available and support services.
- › Provide access to occupational health services and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for confidential counselling and support.
- › Train line managers on their responsibilities towards new and expectant mothers, including anti-discrimination obligations and the importance of early, supportive communication.
Working conditions — temperature extremes
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Redeploy the individual away from areas of sustained high temperature (furnaces, hot-works areas, poorly ventilated summer environments).
- › Provide fans, air conditioning or shading in the work area to maintain a reasonable thermal environment. Ensure free access to cool drinking water.
- › Allow the individual to take additional breaks in cool, shaded rest areas and to maintain adequate hydration throughout the shift.
Slips, trips and falls — altered balance and gait
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Remove the individual from tasks in areas with uneven surfaces, cluttered walkways, ladders, scaffolding, or other heightened slip/trip/fall risks.
- › Maintain unobstructed, well-lit walking routes in all areas the individual uses. Address spills, trailing cables and uneven surfaces promptly.
- › Ensure the individual wears comfortable, well-fitting footwear with adequate ankle support and slip-resistant soles appropriate to the work environment.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ RPE per the COSHH assessment
- ✓ Chemical-resistant gloves
Competence
- ✓ Site induction completed; CSCS or equivalent where the site requires it
Schemes (CSCS, PASMA, IPAF…) evidence competence; they are not statutory requirements in themselves.
Plant & equipment
- › Welfare units and signage
- › Barriers, cones and pedestrian segregation
- › First-aid kits and eye-wash
- › Spill kits
- › Communication (radios / lone-worker device)
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ Welfare provision matching CDM 2015 Schedule 2
- ✓ Traffic management and pedestrian routes
- ✓ Lone-working check-in arrangements where relevant
- ✓ The document is site-specific — real address, access arrangements and dates, not a generic template
- ✓ Hazards match the actual task and the controls are specific (not “take care” and “use PPE”)
- ✓ Named supervisor and competent person, with operative sign-off space
- ✓ Emergency and rescue arrangements that work for this site
The report builder runs these as pre-submission checks before you download — or run an existing document through the free RAMS pre-submission checker.
Frequently asked questions
Who should write a new & expectant mothers risk assessment RAMS?
Someone competent to plan the work — usually the contractor doing the job or their supervisor. A template like this gives you the recognised hazards and controls for new & expectant mothers risk assessment, but the person signing it off must review it as the competent person and confirm it matches the actual site and method.
How long is the RAMS valid for?
Until something changes — there's no fixed expiry in law. Review it if the method, site conditions, equipment or people change, after any incident or near miss, and at sensible intervals on longer jobs. Date the review and re-brief the team.
What regulations apply to new & expectant mothers risk assessment?
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), COSHH 2002, reg 7 — prevention or control of exposure are the main ones, alongside Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and CDM 2015 apply to all construction work.
Does a RAMS need to be site-specific?
Yes — this is the most common reason documents get sent back. Principal contractors reject generic copy-paste RAMS. Your document should name the site, access arrangements, dates, supervisor and any site-specific hazards. The RamsDocs builder fills these in for you and flags what's missing before you download.
Is this template free?
Yes — everything on RamsDocs is free during early access, including building a site-specific version of this RAMS and downloading the PDF. No card required.