Workplaces can be dangerous for pregnant and breastfeeding women and for developing children. All employers are legally and morally obliged to identify possible risks to mothers and the unborn child and they must act to ensure there is no damage to health.

Hazards at work can cause spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, foetal abnormalities, premature delivery and low birth weight.

Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers are more at risk of back and strain injuries, fatigue and because of dizziness or fainting can be more susceptible to accidents at work.

Dr Dan Murphy of the Health and Safety Authority says work can be especially dangerous when a woman doesn't know she's pregnant. For instance, pregnant women who work in dry cleaning shops shouldn't be exposed to large quantities of perchloroethylene because it can cause miscarriages in early pregnancy. But damage can be done before the woman, let alone the employer, knows she is pregnant.

Dr Murphy says back injury is "probably the commonest problem in pregnancy". A woman's ligaments loosen in the later stage of pregnancy so the baby's head can be delivered.

But a side effect is that ligaments in the lower back are more prone to injury.

All employers are obliged by law to carry out a risk assessment of hazards in the workplace. This assessment, part of each employer's compulsory written Safety Statement, must include an identification of possible hazards to pregnant and breastfeeding women and the developing child.

Employers should assess risks to these women and unborn children from: shocks and vibration; manual handling of loads; noise; excessive heat or cold; abrupt movements or postures; radiation; biological agents and chemicals.

Women who have had a Caesarean section shouldn't be required to lift or manoeuvre heavy loads.

Postural problems in later pregnancy and loosened ligaments before and after childbirth should restrict or stop these employees from manual handling of loads. Unprotected exposure to loud noise can raise blood pressure so pregnant women should also have this hazard reduced.

Pregnant women can be sensitive to heat and vulnerable to dizziness or fainting.

Dehydration caused by excessive heat can have an adverse effect on lactating mothers.

Pregnant women can suffer impaired dexterity, agility and balance, reduced co-ordination and speed of movement and a shorter reach.

Employers must ensure that pregnant women are not exposed to ionising radiation which is harmful to the foetus. The employee's abdomen must be protected from excessive external radiation.

Pregnant women or nursing mothers working with radioactive dusts or liquids can expose the developing child to danger through contamination of the mother's skin, ingestion or by breastfeeding.

Certain biological agents like rubella, herpes and chickenpox can cause an abortion or physical or neurological damage to the foetus. A list of these agents is published in the Safety, Health and Welfare (Biological Agents) Regulations, 1994.

Employers should consider each biological agent, the degree of contact and what controls are in place. Vaccination should be considered or, if the risk is too high, these employees should not be exposed to the risk.

Many chemical agents like mercury, lead and carbon monoxide can be dangerous to pregnant and breastfeeding women and the unborn child. Details on these can be found in the Health and Safety Authority's booklet Pregnant at Work.

As soon as an employee notifies management that she's pregnant, an employer is obliged to assess the specific risks identified on the company Safety Statement which could pose a specific risk to that employee.

If that risk assessment indicates the likelihood of injury to the woman or child, the employer is obliged to put in place appropriate safeguards. If that proves impossible, the employer must change her type or hours of work. If that is impossible she must be moved to safe work. Failing that, she must be granted health and safety leave.

The Employment Equality Act states that it is illegal to discriminate against an employee on the grounds of pregnancy. Employers who make special arrangements to facilitate pregnant or breastfeeding employees are protected against an unequal treatment claim.