MumsVet, the British Equine Veterinary Association’s (BEVA) online support platform for equine veterinary professionals juggling work and parenthood, has introduced guidance resources for employers with pregnant staff.

The BEVA Checklist for Employers with Pregnant Staff and the Risk Assessment form for New and Expectant Mothers are available as downloads at beva.org.uk/Home/Careers/Mumsvet/Guidance-for-the-Employer.

Working as an equine veterinary professional poses significant health and safety risks, not least for new or expectant mothers.

“The nature of equine work presents different challenges for pregnant women and working parents,” said Vicki Nicholls, BSc(hons), BVetMed, Cert AVP, MRCVS, BAEDT, MumsVet co-founder, a member of the postgraduate unit at the University of Liverpool Equine Hospital, and former BEVA president. “Lone working, often out of hours in potentially dangerous environments with unpredictable patients, and the paucity of trained support staff in an ambulatory setting are specific challenges to equine vets both male and female. Add pregnancy into the mix and the challenges suddenly increase even further