What workplace risks matter during pregnancy?

Common workplace hazards that can pose a higher risk during pregnancy include heavy or repetitive manual handling, prolonged standing, hazardous chemicals and substances (including lead and radiation), infectious agents (for example in healthcare and childcare), extreme heat, fatigue from long shifts or night work, and the risk of violence or aggression. Whether any of these are an actual risk for you depends on your individual circumstances, which is why medical advice matters. Under the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (s19), your employer must assess and control hazards that may pose a higher risk while you are pregnant.

Does my employer have to change my duties during pregnancy?

Your employer (the PCBU) has a duty under the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (s19) to ensure your health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. Where a workplace hazard poses a higher risk during your pregnancy, that can mean eliminating or minimising the risk by modifying your duties, changing how the work is done, or moving you to a different role. The duty is to manage the risk, not to wait until something goes wrong. The right control depends on the hazard and your circumstances.

What is a safe job and no safe job leave?

Under the Fair Work Act 2009 National Employment Standards (s81–82), a pregnant employee who is entitled to unpaid parental leave and who provides evidence (usually a medical certificate) that she is fit for work but cannot continue her normal job because of risks arising from the pregnancy must be transferred to an appropriate safe job on the same pay, hours and conditions. If there is no appropriate safe job available, she may be entitled to paid no safe job leave for the risk period. This is a Fair Work right and applies regardless of the specific hazard.

Do I have to tell my employer I am pregnant?

There is no general obligation to announce your pregnancy at any particular time. However, to use the safe job right under the Fair Work Act and to have your employer manage a pregnancy-related risk, you will usually need to tell them and provide medical evidence that you cannot continue your normal duties. Telling your employer also lets them meet their work health and safety duty to you. If a hazard is putting you at risk, raising it sooner gives them the chance to act.

Pregnant at Work? WHS Risk Checker

Q: Is this tool medical advice?

No. This tool gives general information about workplace health and safety and your safe-job rights during pregnancy. It is not medical or legal advice and it does not decide your situation. Every pregnancy is different, and only a doctor or midwife can advise on the risks for you. Talk to them about your job and any hazards you are exposed to — they can also provide the evidence you give your employer to support changed duties or a safe job.

You have a right to be safe at work during pregnancy.

Tick any of the hazards below that are part of your job. This tool shows which ones your employer should be managing, explains your right to a safe job, and suggests who to talk to. It is general information, not medical or legal advice — your answers stay in your browser.

Which of these are part of your work?

Tick any that apply. It is fine to tick none — your rights still apply either way.

Your rights still apply

You did not flag any of the listed hazards, which is reassuring. Even so, your employer still has a duty to manage any risk to you during pregnancy, and you still have the right to a safe job if anything about your work becomes a risk. Here is what that means, and who to talk to.

Your employer's duty (WHS Act s19)

Under the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (s19), your employer (the PCBU) must ensure the health and safety of all workers, including you during your pregnancy, so far as is reasonably practicable. That means identifying hazards that may pose a higher risk while you are pregnant, assessing the risk, and eliminating or minimising it — for example by changing your duties, adjusting how the work is done, or moving you to a different role. The duty is on the employer to manage the risk; you do not have to prove it is unsafe before they act.

Your right to a safe job (Fair Work NES s81–82)

Separately from work health and safety law, the Fair Work Act 2009 National Employment Standards give you a "safe job" right (s81–82). If you are entitled to unpaid parental leave and you give your employer evidence (usually a medical certificate) that you are fit for work but cannot keep doing your normal job because of risks arising from your pregnancy, your employer must transfer you to an appropriate safe job on the same pay, hours and conditions. If there is no appropriate safe job available, you may be entitled to paid "no safe job leave" for the risk period. This right applies no matter which hazards are present in your work.

See the Parental Leave entitlements tool

Steps worth taking

Talk to your doctor or midwife about your job and any hazards you are exposed to.
Raise it with your employer, your manager or your health and safety representative — they can change your duties or move you to a safe job.
If you are advised you cannot keep doing your normal job, ask about a transfer to a safe job, or paid no-safe-job leave if no safe job is available.

Get medical advice on your own risks

Every pregnancy is different, and only a doctor or midwife can advise on the risks for you. Talk to them about your job and any hazards you are exposed to — they can give you advice and, if needed, the evidence you give your employer to support changed duties or a safe job. This tool gives general information, not medical advice.

The law: Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 s19 (the PCBU's primary duty to ensure health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable) and the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) National Employment Standards s81–82 (transfer to a safe job / no safe job leave). Victoria runs its own Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, but the same general-duty principle applies, and the Fair Work safe-job right applies nationally.

This is general information about workplace health and safety and your safe-job rights during pregnancy, not legal or medical advice, and it does not decide your situation. The right controls depend on your specific job and your individual circumstances. Get medical advice on your own risks, and if you are unsure or you believe your workplace is not managing the risk, talk to your health and safety representative, your doctor, your union, the Fair Work Ombudsman or a workplace lawyer.

For the full set of work health and safety tools, browse the Safety Hub. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — talk to your doctor or midwife about the risks for you.

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Pregnant at Work? WHS Risk Checker

Which of these are part of your work?

Your rights still apply

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