Maternity Risk Assessments: What Employers Must Do (UK Guide 2025)

A maternity risk assessment is a legal requirement for UK employers when an employee notifies them that they are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have recently given birth. Its purpose is simple: identify workplace risks that could harm the mother or baby and put controls in place immediately.

What Employers Must Assess

Typical risks include:

• Heavy lifting or awkward postures
• Hazardous substances (COSHH)
• Long working hours or night shifts
• Work-related stress
• Slips, trips and falls
• Lone working or high-risk environments

If a risk cannot be removed or controlled, employers must adjust the role, offer suitable alternative work, or suspend on paid leave.

When to Review

A maternity risk assessment must be:

• Completed as soon as the employer is notified
• Reviewed regularly as pregnancy progresses
• Updated immediately if work conditions or health circumstances change

Why It Matters

Failing to assess and act exposes employers to regulatory breaches and puts workers at unnecessary risk. A clear, structured assessment keeps everyone safe and legally protected.