Given that pregnancy has been occurring since the start of humanity, we need not be surprised that we are going to be working with team members who are pregnant or trying to conceive, or we may be that staff member ourselves. And yet, the phenomenon still seems to catch some clinics unprepared!
The reality is, if we manage our OHS hazards well, we are already doing so much to reduce the risk of issues with the pregnancy or unborn baby. Usually, some minor adjustments to work tasks are then made to increase the safety even further once a staff member declares that they are trying to conceive or are pregnant.
The first thing to understand is the demographic breakdown of our sector which highlights why this topic is so important and of such concern for workers:
Vets: 61.7 per cent <45 years of age (AVA veterinary workforce survey 2023/24)
Vet nurses: 96 per cent female, median age 27 years (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025)
Vet students: 80 per cent female intake (AVA veterinary workforce survey 2023/24)
It is well known that some aspects of veterinary clinic work are known to be potentially hazardous to a pregnant mother or unborn baby. In additional to general OHS safe work procedures, special care is needed for the following hazards:
- Anaesthetic gases
- Animal handling
- Veterinary chemicals and drugs
- Ergonomics and comfort
- Manual handling
- Mental health and stress
- Radiation
- Zoonotic diseases
Various veterinary hazards have been linked to health problems in babies such as low birth weight, pre-term birth, developmental problems and in very rare situations, the death of the baby.
Why can we do to reduce the risk of issues?
Your employer can:
- Take reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of the mother and their unborn baby whilst at work, by adjusting work conditions if needed, such as:
- Providing more frequent breaks (for food, water, rests and toilet breaks)
- Potentially adjusting work hours, including reviewing participation in shift work, night work, remote work, sole charge, after hours or stressful work, if possible
- Adjusting work tasks to ensure safety is maximised, such as preventing pregnant staff from holding animals or being within 2m of the primary beam during the taking of x-rays (as per ARPANSA).
Some things you should do if you are pregnant or trying to conceive:
- Notify your employer if you are pregnant or trying to conceive AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, as the most dangerous time for your baby is in the first months of development.
- Be mindful of zoonotic diseases. There are quite a few zoonotic diseases of increased concern for pregnant staff, including Toxoplasmosis, Q fever, Listeriosis, Brucellosis, Psittacosis, Chlamydia and Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Infection may result in miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth or congenital problems in your baby. Discuss with your manager the potential to avoid some tasks such as, handling of birds, handlings of mice and other rodents, the cleaning of cat litter trays and participating in birthing procedures such as caesareans. For more information, visit www.ava.com.au/siteassets/resources/veterinary-personal-biosecurity/guidelines-for-veterinary-personal-biosecurity-2017-final.pdf
What we can all do:
- It’s really important to support staff on your team who are pregnant or trying to conceive. This includes understanding and accepting that some job modifications may need to be made to maximise safety for them and their baby. As a result of these changes, it may be necessary for you to help them with some tasks that they are temporarily not able to complete. Thank you for doing this
- It’s also important to remember that each pregnancy is different. Many pregnancies are quite routine, and staff can continue working in a similar capacity to normal throughout. However, some staff may experience more challenges than others, and require more assistance, particularly if they have a ‘high risk’ pregnancy, due to:
- Gestational diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Health issues of the baby
- Prior history of foetal loss
- Psychological challenges (such as pre-existing anxiety or increasing anxiety about their ability to care for a baby)
- Multiple pregnancies e.g. twins
And finally, it is ALWAYS necessary treat other staff with compassion. It is possible a workmate has had an undisclosed miscarriage, fertility problems or challenges with pregnancy or parenthood. Even if your journey to parenthood was smooth and easy, it is equally possible that your work mate is experiencing a different and more distressing journey.
Louisa Johnson
