Expectant mothers may need quick exit

Employers should be more alert to the health and safety needs of pregnant employees following reports that the number of biths in the UK is now at its highest since 1991, according to experts at Evac+Chair International.

Mark Wallace, MD, says: "It is a legal requirement that employers carry out a risk assessment when they find out an employee is pregnant and this includes assessing the employee's personal evacuation plan. "Any risks discovered in the assessment should be quickly mitigated, including ensuring that appropriate equipment such as an evacuation chair, is available. It may be necessary to train staff to ensure they can assist and help make a swift evacuation.

In a recent survey by Evac+Chair International, the company reported that 40% of businesses said they owned evacuation chairs but did not use them in evacuation drills and 15% of respondents have never carried out a practice session with the equipment.

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