New Protections Proposed for Pregnant Agency Workers in Isle of Man

On the Isle of Man, the government is intending to extend health and safety protections to pregnant agency workers who lack the same risk assessments that are required for expectant mothers. The intention is to harmonise regulation with the UK, where these protections have existed for a long time.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) considers a public consultation on proposals to revise legislation to include agency workers that are new and expectant parents. This is due to the fact that agency workers are not included in some risk assessments employers have to conduct for their pregnant employees or recently given birth.

DEFA stated that it is fair and just to extend these regulations to provide equal levels of protection for all workers.

The consultation summarizes seven fundamental principles for minimizing risks in the workplace including ‘eliminating risks at source’ and ‘adapting work to the individual’. It also highlights the importance of establishing prevention policies and ensuring adequate training.

The consultation contains a proposal for site operators to carry out fire safety risk assessments on site, another step in updating the Isle of Man’s workplace safety legislation.

DEFA is encouraging all interested parties including businesses, workers and stakeholder groups to engage in the consultation process. The department says that public feedback will be key in shaping the future of workplace health and safety on the Isle of Man.