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Pregnancy and Train Driving

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Nesi13

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Hello,

I need some advice of anyone can help, I hope I've posted this in the best place. I currently work as a Train Driver and I am 4 months pregnant. I've let my employer know and they have done a risk assessment. However my company seem a bit unsure on what they will do with me when i can no longer drive trains. They just told me that if I am unable to do anything, please let us know so we can support you. There doesn't seem to be any point where your not allowed to keep driving trains, although I doubt I will be doing this in the later stages.
What do other TOC's do with pregnant train drivers? Are you removed from driving duties immediately? Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks
 
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Johncleesefan

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We had a lass who took up admin type duties during her second and third trimesters then went on maternity. Not sure how it was arranged but the company was very accommodating to the situation
 

neilb62

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On my company (tilting trains) as far as I know the moment you find out you are pregnant you are off trains immediately. I heard once there are hormone changes that can adversely affect the results of a D&A test should you need or have one...
 

Nesi13

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Thanks guys, there doesn't seem to be any specific info on this anywhere. Interesting point about D&A tests. I'm obviously not the first in my company in this situation but everything seems to be a bit vague.
 

neilb62

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Thanks guys, there doesn't seem to be any specific info on this anywhere. Interesting point about D&A tests. I'm obviously not the first in my company in this situation but everything seems to be a bit vague.

One thing I didn't make clear is this applies to the non-safety critical on board staff too. Off trains immediately.
 

DarloRich

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Hello,

I need some advice of anyone can help, I hope I've posted this in the best place. I currently work as a Train Driver and I am 4 months pregnant. I've let my employer know and they have done a risk assessment. However my company seem a bit unsure on what they will do with me when i can no longer drive trains. They just told me that if I am unable to do anything, please let us know so we can support you. There doesn't seem to be any point where your not allowed to keep driving trains, although I doubt I will be doing this in the later stages.
What do other TOC's do with pregnant train drivers? Are you removed from driving duties immediately? Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks


Speak to your union rep. There should also be an equality rep knocking about somewhere. They will be able to support you in dealings with the company. There should also be a well defined company policy for this ( and other ) situations. This should not be a surprise or problem for local management!
 
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ainsworth74

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There should also be a well defined company policy for this ( and other ) situations. This should not be a surprise or problem for local management!

I was thinking that! A member of staff getting pregnant should not be causing confusion surprise!
 

greatkingrat

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The issue is that depending on the size of the depot there may not be much general admin work that can be done. So you may end up sitting in the messroom most of the time twiddling your thumbs.
 

Greenback

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I expect that many factors will come into play, including company policy and availability of other duties, and this may explain why things seem a bit vague to you at the moment. Maybe it will be a bit clearer as things move forward.
 

Bayum

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On my company (tilting trains) as far as I know the moment you find out you are pregnant you are off trains immediately. I heard once there are hormone changes that can adversely affect the results of a D&A test should you need or have one...

What's the reasoning behind being taken off on-board duties?
 

TheEdge

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At my the TOC the general course of action is pregnant staff are taken off and put on light duties, admin or some sort of customer service position. I know one guard spent most of her pregnancy in the ticket office.
 

Bayum

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Climbing in and out of a cab and walking 1 1/4 miles down the track can get tricky.

I can understand the physical reasons, but even so I wouldn't have expected the first or even part of the second trimester to make it so difficult! There's plenty of time before the baby starts to grow or any physical impact begins to be felt.

I could imagine a customer facing role being problematic, but not a driving position.

My curiosity arose from the comment made about being taken off duties immediately. I was a little confused as to the drug and alcohol testing - surely this day in age, medicine is able to differentiate between drugs, alcohol and hormone?
 

Nesi13

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Good points all around. I am in the 2nd trimester and I've already started to feel a bit of strain at the depot, entering and exiting the cab as its quite a big step down on our trains. Also our drop down windows get a bit stiff often which we need for self dispatch and that can be a strain.

I will asking my union rep asap, really don't want to sit around twiddling my thumbs for a few months, my company is medium size so hopefully something will come up.
 

Greenback

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It's a good idea to involve your management and the union if you are starting to feel the effects of your pregnancy. Ideally, everyone, including yourself, will work together to find the best solution.
 

hello

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Same at XC. As soon as any on board staff inform they are pregnant then they are off trains and given other duties

you might want to check that, as i was sure there was a driver for that toc that came off trains. then went back driving when she was about 5 or 6 months pregnant
 

Jonfun

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There's at least a couple of onboard crews who are working whilst pregnant, though to be honest, most grab the opportunity to take time off trains while it's there. They usually end up either in head office doing something like Customer Relations or Resources or similar, or answering the catering order phone line. I'm not sure what they do with drivers who are pregnant, though.
 

Minilad

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then maybe you might want to have a look at that policy

Why?
I have worked here for 15 years and on not one single occasion have I known a driver to be driving whilst pregnant. Each and every one was taken off trains. And certainly none to my knowledge has driven whilst 6 months pregnant. The union and health and safety rep would have kittens
 

Minilad

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so that you know that the policy was changed after the instance that was quoted earlier

I don't know when the policy was changed. All I know is it wouldn't happen now. Which is what the OP was asking about.
There was no quote. Just that you may have heard about it. You could have been mistaken. But I will accept that you do know it for sure
 

Mintona

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I can understand the physical reasons, but even so I wouldn't have expected the first or even part of the second trimester to make it so difficult! There's plenty of time before the baby starts to grow or any physical impact begins to be felt.

I could imagine a customer facing role being problematic, but not a driving position.

My curiosity arose from the comment made about being taken off duties immediately. I was a little confused as to the drug and alcohol testing - surely this day in age, medicine is able to differentiate between drugs, alcohol and hormone?

During the first and second trimesters, I imagine it is awkward trying to drive a train whilst regularly vomiting and needing to urinate frequently.
 

Greenback

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I think the original question has been well and truly answered now, so I;m locking the thread.
 
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